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DI Callum MacLean #2
Straw in the Wind
A suspicious death, a missing girl, and very few leads... New Forest police are grasping at straws
Whilst Detective Inspector Callum MacLean is settling into his new role in rural Hampshire, a young woman is found dead in the neighbourhood, her identity unknown.
For a close-knit community where everyone knows everyone else, this seems very odd, but when a local child goes missing shortly afterwards, panic sets in.
It’s not the first such case for the Scottish inspector, yet the last one in Glasgow ended in tragedy. This is personal. And when Callum’s team don’t share his sense of urgency, he will have to put his foot down.
It doesn’t help that Sergeant Daisy Donaldson, with whom Callum had developed a rapport, has doubts about his theories. Like the weather, relations are becoming stormy.
As the search gets underway to find the little girl, last seen feeding her ponies, all potential suspects have rock solid alibis. The only lead is a white van seen near the area in both cases.
Yet Callum begins to fear they might not be the only ones looking for the missing girl. Will they find her before tragedy strikes again?
STRAW IN THE WIND is the second standalone detective mystery by Carol Cole featuring DI Callum MacLean.
Whilst Detective Inspector Callum MacLean is settling into his new role in rural Hampshire, a young woman is found dead in the neighbourhood, her identity unknown.
For a close-knit community where everyone knows everyone else, this seems very odd, but when a local child goes missing shortly afterwards, panic sets in.
It’s not the first such case for the Scottish inspector, yet the last one in Glasgow ended in tragedy. This is personal. And when Callum’s team don’t share his sense of urgency, he will have to put his foot down.
It doesn’t help that Sergeant Daisy Donaldson, with whom Callum had developed a rapport, has doubts about his theories. Like the weather, relations are becoming stormy.
As the search gets underway to find the little girl, last seen feeding her ponies, all potential suspects have rock solid alibis. The only lead is a white van seen near the area in both cases.
Yet Callum begins to fear they might not be the only ones looking for the missing girl. Will they find her before tragedy strikes again?
STRAW IN THE WIND is the second standalone detective mystery by Carol Cole featuring DI Callum MacLean.
242 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 3, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
February 14, 2025
Brilliant
DI Callum MacLean is settling in to his new life living and working in the New Forest but before too long he has two new cases to deal with. A young woman is found dead, and then a child disappears from her home. He needs to find the child quickly, but with his new detective sergeant doubting his thinking will he find her alive? I really like this new series and hope there will be a third book soon.
DI Callum MacLean is settling in to his new life living and working in the New Forest but before too long he has two new cases to deal with. A young woman is found dead, and then a child disappears from her home. He needs to find the child quickly, but with his new detective sergeant doubting his thinking will he find her alive? I really like this new series and hope there will be a third book soon.
February 8, 2025
Awesome
I hope there will be more books in this series. I really like them.
DI MacLean is smart and calm. I do hope he can get over his late wife, not forget her, but neither forgetting himself. I like he doesn’t have to yell or course to lead, he really has it in him a clever leader, even though he sometimes gets lost in his memories. And the animals, he stared with a cat, next step a dog.
I hope there will be more books in this series. I really like them.
DI MacLean is smart and calm. I do hope he can get over his late wife, not forget her, but neither forgetting himself. I like he doesn’t have to yell or course to lead, he really has it in him a clever leader, even though he sometimes gets lost in his memories. And the animals, he stared with a cat, next step a dog.
February 10, 2025
Really good news series . Bring on more
February 4, 2025
I liked it as well as the previous one, but I just probably missed where disappeared Legs…
February 19, 2026
4.25. This is a good series so far. Interesting people in the police and great setting. I liked this crime and the solving, it was a completely different ending than you would have predicted.
May 26, 2025
Looking forward to the sequels.
March 16, 2026
Detective Callum MacLean has settled down well into his new job in the New Forest area of England, an area mentioned in the Domesday Book so it's been around for over a 1,000 years now! Callum's team have settled down with him too, the only one gripe I would have is that police officers are not allowed long hair and earstuds unless they are working underground cover police officers, maybe the scottish system is different. Anyway leaving that aside Callum is called early in the morning to a girl dead in the street and found by a man who features in each book, Paul. A quite lonely man as he seems to have no relatives now as he is getting older. The young woman seems to have been dead for a short while and the pathologist doesn't think she died on the road where she was found, she was a spanish girl of just 19 and had disappeared 3 yrs before.
Then Callum finds himself looking into a case of the kidnap of Kim an 8yr girl who was being looked after by her older sister Kelly, who seems to be a not very likeable teenager who bullied her little sis. Their parents were care workers and due to staffing shortages both asked to go to work that night and Kelly was taking Kim to feed her pony and then come straight back home. Except Kim didn't come back as Kelly left her in the forest in the dark as she was going out with her new boyfriend and having an interesting time in the back of his car, not realising that kim hadn't returned home from feeding her pony, her parents discovered her disappearance the next morning when returning from their night shifts.
Callum is conscious of running out of time and leads to find little Kim but then he has a lightbulb moment. During all this he also is having a house built and acquires a stray cat, whom he eventually gets quite attached to. I liked this book the tension was building up nicely all the way through and even his team seemed to be syncing with his thoughts although they weren't at the beginning!!
Then Callum finds himself looking into a case of the kidnap of Kim an 8yr girl who was being looked after by her older sister Kelly, who seems to be a not very likeable teenager who bullied her little sis. Their parents were care workers and due to staffing shortages both asked to go to work that night and Kelly was taking Kim to feed her pony and then come straight back home. Except Kim didn't come back as Kelly left her in the forest in the dark as she was going out with her new boyfriend and having an interesting time in the back of his car, not realising that kim hadn't returned home from feeding her pony, her parents discovered her disappearance the next morning when returning from their night shifts.
Callum is conscious of running out of time and leads to find little Kim but then he has a lightbulb moment. During all this he also is having a house built and acquires a stray cat, whom he eventually gets quite attached to. I liked this book the tension was building up nicely all the way through and even his team seemed to be syncing with his thoughts although they weren't at the beginning!!
March 16, 2026
This series of police procedurals is entertaining and full of twists and unexpected turns. I enjoy the diverse personalities of the police team and the personal stories that emerge behind them. The story had lots of characters and suspects and the team is juggling 2 cases of missing girls that may be linked. The tale is well-written and the clues unfold at a good pace. It turns out that there are several crimes being committed here and it muddies the waters for the police to sort it all out. I did feel that sometimes there is too much description of plants, animals and landscapes in the book that makes it a little flowery but it also gives the reader a picture of rural New Forest so I had mixed feelings here. The main character, Callum is suffering from grief ad trying to rebuild his life., which is compelling. I felt that DS Daisy was immature in some of her reactions and maybe too close to the people in her hometown to be objective. An enjoyable story and series overall.
September 8, 2025
Interesting! Intriguing!
This second book in the series was full of twists and turns that spun out in all directions and kept me guessing until the very end. A mysterious death of a person who had been classified as missing occurred. There were no signs of foul play, but what caused the death of a young, seemingly healthy woman? The story told by the man who found her on his property and claimed he was trying to resuscitate her just didn't ring true. While attempting to find the details and truth of the matter, a child goes missing, and there are signs that the two cases are connected. The how and the why are both frustrating and elusive, but Detective MacLean doggedly keeps searching for answers that result in a very surprising ending. Highly recommended. You won't be disappointed!
This second book in the series was full of twists and turns that spun out in all directions and kept me guessing until the very end. A mysterious death of a person who had been classified as missing occurred. There were no signs of foul play, but what caused the death of a young, seemingly healthy woman? The story told by the man who found her on his property and claimed he was trying to resuscitate her just didn't ring true. While attempting to find the details and truth of the matter, a child goes missing, and there are signs that the two cases are connected. The how and the why are both frustrating and elusive, but Detective MacLean doggedly keeps searching for answers that result in a very surprising ending. Highly recommended. You won't be disappointed!
April 3, 2026
Definitely not as good as the first one.
Spoilers
Why was Legs just fully forgotten about after being mentioned a couple of times in the beginning? She was a cool character in the first book. And why did I have to keep reading about Callum's new boots? There's no obvious suspect for the first half of the book, too, which makes it quite dry.
Oh, and the dog storyline was so incredibly obvious as soon as Ruby is "missing" that it's pretty unbelievable that an animal-loving DS would miss it until they find the operation.
This book is just messily written in terms of structure. Not as enjoyable as the first.
Going to read the third book in the series, in the hope it is more like the first, because I already have it downloaded on Kindle. if I didn't already have it, I wouldn't bother getting it based on this book.
Spoilers
Why was Legs just fully forgotten about after being mentioned a couple of times in the beginning? She was a cool character in the first book. And why did I have to keep reading about Callum's new boots? There's no obvious suspect for the first half of the book, too, which makes it quite dry.
Oh, and the dog storyline was so incredibly obvious as soon as Ruby is "missing" that it's pretty unbelievable that an animal-loving DS would miss it until they find the operation.
This book is just messily written in terms of structure. Not as enjoyable as the first.
Going to read the third book in the series, in the hope it is more like the first, because I already have it downloaded on Kindle. if I didn't already have it, I wouldn't bother getting it based on this book.
August 24, 2025
This is a terrific follow-up to what was a brilliant first in the series. Callum, Daisy and the team find themselves investigating the discovery of a dead woman's body when they are also tasked with looking into the disappearance of a teenage girl.
I missed Legs in this one but the rest of the team perform admirably. I like how Daisy is subtly trying to figure Callum out a bit more. Callum himself is living in a new temporary location while getting a new house built and I'm enjoying the brief insights into his new domestic life. There are some not so nice characters in this book and I wasn't sure who was involved. I'm loving the rural setting and seeing how Callum is slowly adjusting to his new life. Looking forward to reading more in the series.
I missed Legs in this one but the rest of the team perform admirably. I like how Daisy is subtly trying to figure Callum out a bit more. Callum himself is living in a new temporary location while getting a new house built and I'm enjoying the brief insights into his new domestic life. There are some not so nice characters in this book and I wasn't sure who was involved. I'm loving the rural setting and seeing how Callum is slowly adjusting to his new life. Looking forward to reading more in the series.
March 24, 2025
Callum and Daisy investigate the death of a 19-year old woman and a missing 8-year old girl. This books takes on the subjects of jealousy, bullying, friendships and the love of animals. I do hope that Callum moves on in the next book to become more likeable as his dwelling on about his dead wife after 3 years is a bit morbid. Granted one has wonderful memories, but one needs to move on. The author already hinted that Grace did not care for being at his grandparents as she liked the city better. Callum realises he likes this environment. So he needs to listen to himself and start enjoying life.
June 9, 2025
Wonderful characters!
I love ther 2 books in this series.
The plots are good... multifaceted.
The descriptions of the darling animals and the beautiful land are detailed and lovely. But the best part are the different characters and how the author describes them so you can just picture them! The main characters are wonderful... especially the thoughtful Callum, still grieving his late wife but beginning a new phase in his life. I hope the author continues this series with many more books !!!
I love ther 2 books in this series.
The plots are good... multifaceted.
The descriptions of the darling animals and the beautiful land are detailed and lovely. But the best part are the different characters and how the author describes them so you can just picture them! The main characters are wonderful... especially the thoughtful Callum, still grieving his late wife but beginning a new phase in his life. I hope the author continues this series with many more books !!!
March 6, 2025
A Brilliant Storyteller
I've really, really enjoyed reading the two books in this series and am begging for more.
Small town setting, scottish leading character, interesting backstories, complex investigations where all is not as it seems....who could ask for more? Beyond more books in the series, of course.
Did i mention the expertly crafted emotional tug the stories evoke? It's my favorite part.
I've really, really enjoyed reading the two books in this series and am begging for more.
Small town setting, scottish leading character, interesting backstories, complex investigations where all is not as it seems....who could ask for more? Beyond more books in the series, of course.
Did i mention the expertly crafted emotional tug the stories evoke? It's my favorite part.
March 24, 2025
3 3/4 Stars
DI Callum McLean is still adjusting to his life in the New Forest. A body is found in the neighborhood, identity unknown. While working on this case, a young girl disappears. There are many twists and turns, but the case is solved eventually. And the perp is who McLean thought but for totally different reasons. More information about the New Forest and the British resistance during WWII are within the pages of this book.
DI Callum McLean is still adjusting to his life in the New Forest. A body is found in the neighborhood, identity unknown. While working on this case, a young girl disappears. There are many twists and turns, but the case is solved eventually. And the perp is who McLean thought but for totally different reasons. More information about the New Forest and the British resistance during WWII are within the pages of this book.
August 30, 2025
Second Callum MacLean mystery. A dead girl is found. Seemingly died of natural causes. Turns out she was a runaway from Spain.
Then a young local girl disappears.
Callum and the team work together--I am liking the chemistry of the characters.
In this installment, we learn more about Callum--he is building a house, trying to build a life after Grace.
Hope there will be more in the series. These books would also adapt well to TV
Then a young local girl disappears.
Callum and the team work together--I am liking the chemistry of the characters.
In this installment, we learn more about Callum--he is building a house, trying to build a life after Grace.
Hope there will be more in the series. These books would also adapt well to TV
March 24, 2025
Another Excellent Story
Another excellent story in the Callum MacLean series and a great follow up to the first book. He has his new team working with him and you can see the relationships developing. Great storyline and a good satisfactory ending. Looking forward to reading more in the series.
Another excellent story in the Callum MacLean series and a great follow up to the first book. He has his new team working with him and you can see the relationships developing. Great storyline and a good satisfactory ending. Looking forward to reading more in the series.
April 18, 2025
3.5 Like others, I'm a little tired on the emphasis of his dead wife. Still like the characters, but found the relationship between the sisters too open-ended. Had hoped to like this second book even better than the first, but for several reasons, I was a bit disappointed. Nevertheless, an entertaining read.
May 11, 2025
So well written, I really felt as though I was in the New Forest as the narrative was so descriptive. The sounds, smells and places described took me back to my younger days spent around Fordingbridge and surrounding areas, such a joy to read and with an exciting twist to boot. Bravo, I can't wait for book three.
July 28, 2025
Straw in the Wind
I absolutely loved this book. Like the first one, it was full of mystery and suspense! I actually only read the first one because my son lives in Fordingbridge and I’d just returned from visiting him! Now I have a new favourite detective….and team! Would highly recommend both books.
I absolutely loved this book. Like the first one, it was full of mystery and suspense! I actually only read the first one because my son lives in Fordingbridge and I’d just returned from visiting him! Now I have a new favourite detective….and team! Would highly recommend both books.
April 17, 2026
Looking forward to book four.
There is always the overbearing as ring but useless senior uniformed officer. I couldn’t help casting Anton Lesser in the part (Endeavour). Enjoyed the three books even though I read book two last. I look forward to book four and joining the team back in the New Forest.
There is always the overbearing as ring but useless senior uniformed officer. I couldn’t help casting Anton Lesser in the part (Endeavour). Enjoyed the three books even though I read book two last. I look forward to book four and joining the team back in the New Forest.
March 12, 2025
Couldn't wait for the end, then didn't want it to end
Well developed characters that draw your interests. Real page turner.
Story line made perfect sense And kept you guessing to the end
Well developed characters that draw your interests. Real page turner.
Story line made perfect sense And kept you guessing to the end
April 8, 2025
Carole Cole
What a breath of fresh air a DI who’s not fighting tooth and nail with his boss and has jelled with his new team almost immediately there’s even locals who don’t hate the police and are even helpful
Great story lines as well
What a breath of fresh air a DI who’s not fighting tooth and nail with his boss and has jelled with his new team almost immediately there’s even locals who don’t hate the police and are even helpful
Great story lines as well
April 17, 2025
These books.
I enjoy this author's work. She writes well and has kept me guessing!
I had never read any of her work before, but will be looking out for the next one!
Thank you Ms Cole.
I enjoy this author's work. She writes well and has kept me guessing!
I had never read any of her work before, but will be looking out for the next one!
Thank you Ms Cole.
July 3, 2025
a great and new detective book
The characters in this book are interesting, complex and quirky. The mysteries are interesting also. I have read the first 2 books in this series and I am waiting for more
The characters in this book are interesting, complex and quirky. The mysteries are interesting also. I have read the first 2 books in this series and I am waiting for more
August 12, 2025
Two great books
Carole Cole writes beautifully. Her descriptions of characters and places is poetic while the plots are twisted and the solution unpredictable. Humor keeps it light. The New Forest sounds like a special place where animals are valued by most. A good read.
Carole Cole writes beautifully. Her descriptions of characters and places is poetic while the plots are twisted and the solution unpredictable. Humor keeps it light. The New Forest sounds like a special place where animals are valued by most. A good read.
August 30, 2025
Uncommonly good
Lovely descriptive writing, really interesting, colorful characters, emotions without smut, animals you can 'see' and mystery that makes sense. Ready for more from Carol Cole!
Lovely descriptive writing, really interesting, colorful characters, emotions without smut, animals you can 'see' and mystery that makes sense. Ready for more from Carol Cole!
April 6, 2026
Nicely written story
The book is interesting in that there are many new ideas. The team have a good working relationship. There is no political nonsense which is good for a police procedural.
The book is interesting in that there are many new ideas. The team have a good working relationship. There is no political nonsense which is good for a police procedural.
April 12, 2026
Just as solid as the first. Nice to be back with the same characters, although I needed a bit more finality about the circumstances of the first victim.
I would say that the blurb doesn’t match the story.
I would say that the blurb doesn’t match the story.
February 23, 2025
An amazing follow up book to a stunning debut. We can't wait to see what Carol Cole has next in store.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews