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In the Shadow of the Hill
An elderly woman is found battered to death in the common stairwell of an Inverness block of flats.
Detective Sergeant Joe Galbraith starts what seems like one more depressing investigation of the untimely death of a poor unfortunate who was in the wrong place, at the wrong time.
As the investigation spreads across Scotland it reaches into a past that Joe has tried to forget, and takes him back to the Hebridean island of Harris, where he spent his childhood.
Among the mountains and the stunning landscape of religiously conservative Harris, in the shadow of Ceapabhal, long buried events and a tragic story are slowly uncovered, and the investigation takes on an altogether more sinister aspect.
In The Shadow Of The Hill skilfully captures the intricacies and malevolence of the underbelly of Highland and Island life, bringing tragedy and vengeance to the magical beauty of the Outer Hebrides.
Detective Sergeant Joe Galbraith starts what seems like one more depressing investigation of the untimely death of a poor unfortunate who was in the wrong place, at the wrong time.
As the investigation spreads across Scotland it reaches into a past that Joe has tried to forget, and takes him back to the Hebridean island of Harris, where he spent his childhood.
Among the mountains and the stunning landscape of religiously conservative Harris, in the shadow of Ceapabhal, long buried events and a tragic story are slowly uncovered, and the investigation takes on an altogether more sinister aspect.
In The Shadow Of The Hill skilfully captures the intricacies and malevolence of the underbelly of Highland and Island life, bringing tragedy and vengeance to the magical beauty of the Outer Hebrides.
Kindle Edition
First published October 29, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 25, 2017
sarà....
a me pare che ci sia qualche cognome che non è più quello originale (e non si sa perché), e qualche mancato riconoscimento che non si spiega proprio.
d'altronde, qualche colpo di scena in un giallo bisogna pur mettercelo.
si può leggere, tanto più che si ripassa un po' di inglese
a me pare che ci sia qualche cognome che non è più quello originale (e non si sa perché), e qualche mancato riconoscimento che non si spiega proprio.
d'altronde, qualche colpo di scena in un giallo bisogna pur mettercelo.
si può leggere, tanto più che si ripassa un po' di inglese
January 10, 2019
A very gritty read, good Scottish Noir.
February 18, 2021
Excellent- well developed characters and great plot with a few unexpected twists and turns, especially towards the end. Some really believable people in the storyline and a good sense of place both in Inverness and the Isle of Harris.
January 4, 2016
I defy anyone not to scream out loud at the final twist! Excellent suspense and a less conventional setting: Inverness.
August 4, 2018
I approached this book from a sentimental angle. The Western Hebrides are part of the family book of memories. Harris, but also Uist, Skye and, above all of them, St. Kilda. Therefore a book set in Inverness and Harris should bring moments of pleasure. And it did. It was better than expected. I guess I could have been benevolent and granted the fourth star. But I’m shy and didn’t.
There’s a story, there’s passion, there’s drunkenness and poor life, there’s an affluent family and Police detectives. There’s life, summing up. We know there’s a mystery around the hill in Harris, but the author doses up information in a good buildup of suspense.
On the down side, it’s a bit well-intentioned, certainly soft. It could have been really sordid and it isn’t. The characters could have been more developed, but my sentimental approach tells me that I was fulfilled. That was it. I liked it and had a good moment being bitten by mosquitoes while thinking of midgets and suffering from extreme heat while thinking of Northern breezes.
There’s a story, there’s passion, there’s drunkenness and poor life, there’s an affluent family and Police detectives. There’s life, summing up. We know there’s a mystery around the hill in Harris, but the author doses up information in a good buildup of suspense.
On the down side, it’s a bit well-intentioned, certainly soft. It could have been really sordid and it isn’t. The characters could have been more developed, but my sentimental approach tells me that I was fulfilled. That was it. I liked it and had a good moment being bitten by mosquitoes while thinking of midgets and suffering from extreme heat while thinking of Northern breezes.
May 2, 2022
Even detectives have their secrets!
DS Galbraith is a hard-working young copper based in Inverness. He has the usual rivalries at work and he finds it hard to get on with his family at times.
The death of an elderly woman proves unusual. The possibility of accidental death is quickly disproved, and more questions than answers begin to appear. Who is the dead woman, and why would she, a well-spoken, well-educated, intelligent person be living the way she was? Soon it is clear that this woman has a checkered, and enigmatic history, and Galbraith's worst nightmare comes true: he is sent to his childhood home of the Isle of Harris to find out the answers the case so desperately needs. Once there, Galbraith is forced to confront not just the facts of the murder case, but his own past, with devastating consequences.
This is a storming, twist-and-turn thriller of a crime novel, with well-drawn and relatable characters and a wonderful setting. I highly recommend this book.
DS Galbraith is a hard-working young copper based in Inverness. He has the usual rivalries at work and he finds it hard to get on with his family at times.
The death of an elderly woman proves unusual. The possibility of accidental death is quickly disproved, and more questions than answers begin to appear. Who is the dead woman, and why would she, a well-spoken, well-educated, intelligent person be living the way she was? Soon it is clear that this woman has a checkered, and enigmatic history, and Galbraith's worst nightmare comes true: he is sent to his childhood home of the Isle of Harris to find out the answers the case so desperately needs. Once there, Galbraith is forced to confront not just the facts of the murder case, but his own past, with devastating consequences.
This is a storming, twist-and-turn thriller of a crime novel, with well-drawn and relatable characters and a wonderful setting. I highly recommend this book.
December 27, 2020
In the Shadow of the Hill
I know Northton and found it intriguing to be part of a murder mystery, but it worked really well,I found the book to be as well written and as enjoyable as Ian Rankin and Stuart McBride, I can't place it higher than that.
I know Northton and found it intriguing to be part of a murder mystery, but it worked really well,I found the book to be as well written and as enjoyable as Ian Rankin and Stuart McBride, I can't place it higher than that.
February 3, 2022
An interesting introduction to the main characters. This is an intriguing novel that builds steadily but has plenty of twists and turns in the plot. It is set in beautiful locations and I found it an interesting introduction to the author. 4* from me
July 27, 2018
I don't read a lot of police/mystery novels, but picked this one up because of the local setting. I really enjoyed it. I thought it was well-paced, and that everything fit together neatly...and then then it suddenly hit a new level. Would highly recommend.
May 28, 2018
Enjoyable, interesting, quietly amusing in places, but on the whole a realistic study of how the deeds of the past affect the minds of those in the present. The elderly and their frailties appear everywhere in this book. The ending was very convoluted and I wondered if the extra twist was necessary or credible, given how some of the characters had been portrayed up to then, but in my opinion on the whole it worked. I would certainly read more from this author.
October 27, 2017
Gripping story with intriguing characters and a fantastic twist. Really enjoyed this.
December 18, 2015
Great debut from this author. I was a little confused at times but was satisfied with the ending after I managed to straighten it out in my head. I'll definitely be buying the next in the series when it comes out.
December 19, 2014
Another great island based murder mystery.
May 20, 2018
An interesting short novel that grew out of a short story written for a writers' club, In the Shadow of the Hill takes place in Inverness and the island of Harris. Joe Galbraith is a DI with Police Scotland, stationed in Inverness. The murder of an elderly woman leads him back to his troubled childhood on Harris.
The number of characters and plot points was a tad confusing at first, and by the end it got really confusing as characters spoke in voices from their past. There is truly a plot twist at the end that had me plotting out with paper and pen who was what and when.
Snippets of Gaelic throughout the book (correctly spelt!) were appreciated but there did seem to be an underlining not quite disdain for the island of Harris voiced by the characters. Not sure if that reflects the author's view or not.
The number of characters and plot points was a tad confusing at first, and by the end it got really confusing as characters spoke in voices from their past. There is truly a plot twist at the end that had me plotting out with paper and pen who was what and when.
Snippets of Gaelic throughout the book (correctly spelt!) were appreciated but there did seem to be an underlining not quite disdain for the island of Harris voiced by the characters. Not sure if that reflects the author's view or not.
April 21, 2015
I almost gave up reading after the first two chapters. It seemed obvious that here was a new writer trying too hard to impress. Overloaded with local colour and a cast of off-beat characters (most of whom never feature again) the scene-setting was too much to take in.
But I persevered and the writer soon got into her stride as the story took off. By the half way mark I was hooked and keen to fathom out what had happened to Stephen and Joe in the dim and distant past.
Unfortunately when the ending came it completely baffled me. I had to re-read parts of it three or four times and I still can't figure out what happened to who - or how, or why. An interesting psychological thriller let down by a tricksy ending that didn't add anything to an already convoluted plot.
But I persevered and the writer soon got into her stride as the story took off. By the half way mark I was hooked and keen to fathom out what had happened to Stephen and Joe in the dim and distant past.
Unfortunately when the ending came it completely baffled me. I had to re-read parts of it three or four times and I still can't figure out what happened to who - or how, or why. An interesting psychological thriller let down by a tricksy ending that didn't add anything to an already convoluted plot.
February 16, 2016
Recommended
Bought this while in South Uist, good characters and story. Describes areas in and around Inverness and Nairn well too.
Bought this while in South Uist, good characters and story. Describes areas in and around Inverness and Nairn well too.
December 6, 2017
one of the few books I've read where I got to the end and just began again at the beginning. Seriously wonderful plotting
July 27, 2022
Very good crime thriller. Local author and set in the Highlands.
July 26, 2015
Good thriller especially if you know Inverness and or Harris, Scotland
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews