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MURDER IN DARNLEY GLEN a BRAND NEW absolutely gripping Scottish crime mystery with a massive twist
A dead woman. A missing baby. A desperate race against time.
It’s a cold October dawn when Detective Lola gets the call. The body of a young woman has been found in the reeds at Darnley Glen park on the outskirts of Glasgow. There’s a vicious wound to her head.
She’s not been dead long. A shaken taxi driver insists he saw the victim just hours earlier, running through the darkness, clutching a newborn.
But there’s no sign of the baby.
Then, a 999 call. A local businessman reports his ten-week-old son was kidnapped at gunpoint by a woman matching the victim’s description.
But why did he wait so long to call the police? Lola’s instincts tell her he’s hiding something behind the walls of his plush suburban home.
Time is running out to find the missing child — but the truth is darker, and more twisted, than Lola could ever imagine.
Dark, unsettling, and steeped in the shadows of the Scottish landscape, this gripping detective mystery is perfect for fans of J.D. Kirk, Ian Rankin, Caro Ramsay, Marion Todd and Val McDermid.
‘Whipsmart plots and a vivid sense of place — everything you could want from a crime fiction series.’ Marion Todd, author of the DI Clare Mackay series.
‘If you like beautifully written noir with a feisty female lead, then these are for you!’ Caro Ramsay, author of the Anderson and Costello series
READERS LOVE MURDER AT DARNLEY
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A cracking plot . . . The more I read of Daniel Sellers’ books, the more he is becoming one of my favourite go-to authors.’ Andrew B.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘An absolute page-turner.’ Loraine G.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘An excellent book . . . The ending is quite shocking.’ Hannelore C.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I absolutely loved this book! An exciting and well-plotted read.’ Martha B.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Loved it.’ Susan
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘You won’t want to put this one down! Five stars.’ Kathleen H.
MEET THE DETECTIVE
Lola Harris, a former hairdresser, is able to get people to trust her at their most vulnerable. She can pierce the toughest facade, asking questions that get to the heart of the matter. But she knows she can play it “mumsy” when she needs to. She drinks too much coffee, and likes a Bacardi and Coke, though she tries not to drink because it makes her maudlin about her useless ex, Joe.
THE SETTING
Glasgow is a city of many different faces, from gritty and unsettling, to modern and slick. It rains a clouds make a lid over the city, and citizens hunch as they hurry about their business. Still, people are very friendly and like a good time.
It’s a cold October dawn when Detective Lola gets the call. The body of a young woman has been found in the reeds at Darnley Glen park on the outskirts of Glasgow. There’s a vicious wound to her head.
She’s not been dead long. A shaken taxi driver insists he saw the victim just hours earlier, running through the darkness, clutching a newborn.
But there’s no sign of the baby.
Then, a 999 call. A local businessman reports his ten-week-old son was kidnapped at gunpoint by a woman matching the victim’s description.
But why did he wait so long to call the police? Lola’s instincts tell her he’s hiding something behind the walls of his plush suburban home.
Time is running out to find the missing child — but the truth is darker, and more twisted, than Lola could ever imagine.
Dark, unsettling, and steeped in the shadows of the Scottish landscape, this gripping detective mystery is perfect for fans of J.D. Kirk, Ian Rankin, Caro Ramsay, Marion Todd and Val McDermid.
‘Whipsmart plots and a vivid sense of place — everything you could want from a crime fiction series.’ Marion Todd, author of the DI Clare Mackay series.
‘If you like beautifully written noir with a feisty female lead, then these are for you!’ Caro Ramsay, author of the Anderson and Costello series
READERS LOVE MURDER AT DARNLEY
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A cracking plot . . . The more I read of Daniel Sellers’ books, the more he is becoming one of my favourite go-to authors.’ Andrew B.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘An absolute page-turner.’ Loraine G.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘An excellent book . . . The ending is quite shocking.’ Hannelore C.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I absolutely loved this book! An exciting and well-plotted read.’ Martha B.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Loved it.’ Susan
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘You won’t want to put this one down! Five stars.’ Kathleen H.
MEET THE DETECTIVE
Lola Harris, a former hairdresser, is able to get people to trust her at their most vulnerable. She can pierce the toughest facade, asking questions that get to the heart of the matter. But she knows she can play it “mumsy” when she needs to. She drinks too much coffee, and likes a Bacardi and Coke, though she tries not to drink because it makes her maudlin about her useless ex, Joe.
THE SETTING
Glasgow is a city of many different faces, from gritty and unsettling, to modern and slick. It rains a clouds make a lid over the city, and citizens hunch as they hurry about their business. Still, people are very friendly and like a good time.
- GenresAudiobook
272 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 27, 2025
83 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 31, 2025
I didn't know this was the last book in the series when I picked it up, but it did feel like a last book, so I kind of got the gist, long before it was announced within the book itself. 🤔
All in all, I'm glad I stuck with the series, but, yes, it did feel like it had reached road's end.
Maybe already some books ago, if I'm being perfectly honest. The proper spark would never quite show up and join Lola. She was a good main character, but she had to carry the books entirely on her own. No other character stood out from the crowd, so to speak.
The narrator was good - though with a slightly annoying tendency to make as good as every side-character nasal and whiny as heck. 😆
Plus, someone should have edited out all wet mouth sounds. (Sorry, but they make me cringe sooo hard.) 😬
To sum things up: A decent police mystery series, but not amazing.
All in all, I'm glad I stuck with the series, but, yes, it did feel like it had reached road's end.
Maybe already some books ago, if I'm being perfectly honest. The proper spark would never quite show up and join Lola. She was a good main character, but she had to carry the books entirely on her own. No other character stood out from the crowd, so to speak.
The narrator was good - though with a slightly annoying tendency to make as good as every side-character nasal and whiny as heck. 😆
Plus, someone should have edited out all wet mouth sounds. (Sorry, but they make me cringe sooo hard.) 😬
To sum things up: A decent police mystery series, but not amazing.
December 1, 2025
In a market flooded with books in the police procedural genre, it takes a lot to stand out in my opinion. And this book doesn’t just stand out, it strides forward and sets off a flare.
Although this is the sixth, and final, book in the Detective Lola Harris, it can easily be read as a standalone. I love a strong female main character, and Lola set my feminist heart beating faster as I followed her in trying to unpick what on earth was going on with a very strange kidnapping, the kidnapper being found dead and the baby nowhere to be seen.
The secondary characters were well rounded and my suspicion of everyone intensified as Lola challenged stories in interviews. Yet I fell for the trap of taking them at face value so when the big reveal came, I was stunned.
The narrative set off quickly and the pace was relentless, meaning a couple of “just one more chapter” nights and eye bag mornings for me! I don’t want to give any spoilers but the book opened my eyes to some of the practices which can be hidden in plain sight, or perhaps it’s just that we don’t want to see… cryptic, I know - but you’ll thank me for it when you read this book for yourself!
This is the first novel I’ve read by Daniel Sellers and I’m looking forward to delving into into all of Lola’s previous cases. I’m giving this a firm ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ as it stands out in its genre to me.
Although this is the sixth, and final, book in the Detective Lola Harris, it can easily be read as a standalone. I love a strong female main character, and Lola set my feminist heart beating faster as I followed her in trying to unpick what on earth was going on with a very strange kidnapping, the kidnapper being found dead and the baby nowhere to be seen.
The secondary characters were well rounded and my suspicion of everyone intensified as Lola challenged stories in interviews. Yet I fell for the trap of taking them at face value so when the big reveal came, I was stunned.
The narrative set off quickly and the pace was relentless, meaning a couple of “just one more chapter” nights and eye bag mornings for me! I don’t want to give any spoilers but the book opened my eyes to some of the practices which can be hidden in plain sight, or perhaps it’s just that we don’t want to see… cryptic, I know - but you’ll thank me for it when you read this book for yourself!
This is the first novel I’ve read by Daniel Sellers and I’m looking forward to delving into into all of Lola’s previous cases. I’m giving this a firm ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ as it stands out in its genre to me.
December 31, 2025
The start is seemingly innocuous, the auntie of a friend of Lola wants some advice about a neighbour who she fears is being coercively controlled by her husband. No really Lola’s job but she promises to pass it along the line to the appropriate officer. Being busy she parks it for when she has more time, something she will course come to regret.
The murder of a young woman grabs the attention, a witness reports seeing a woman running with a bundle in her arms which he thinks was a baby. Just how credible the taxi driver witness is being considered when there is the report of the abduction of a baby. The crimes must be connected, but where is the baby? A complex case for Lola and her team to solve and one that will turn unexpectedly dark.
The plot is certainly clever. After the initial murder and abduction, which form the investigation, it connects to the local Clyde University, and then motivations become unclear. The reader realises that there is more to it than originally appeared and this kept me guessing until the end.
It becomes apparent that it’s a story about power, influence and exploitation. The baby’s father works on a cybercrime task force with the ACC and so uses his influence with him to interfere with the investigation. Lola has enough to deal without this. At the university Lola and the team are constantly thwarted by the CEO in a bureaucracy powerplay that also draws in the chairman and the Establishment. More than petty bureaucrats, these are people of influence, on large salaries and overseeing multimillion pound budgets. The characterisation here was brilliant, if a little unkind, skewering the vanity and pomposity, hinting that success in the public sector might not always be down to ability. Here it goes beyond the building of personal fiefdoms, the sense that they will protect its reputation at all costs. In the end it is women, as ever, who bear the brunt of the exploitation.
The pacing is well judged, brisk at times, but also allowing the tension to build up. The final third is totally gripping as it builds up to an action-packed conclusion filled with danger a jeopardy, which thriller fans will enjoy. It is also tinged with a touch of sadness and reflection as befits the seriousness of the subject.
The crime behind the abduction is one that is rarely covered in UK crime fiction so adds a touch of original thinking, which is always welcomed.
The murder of a young woman grabs the attention, a witness reports seeing a woman running with a bundle in her arms which he thinks was a baby. Just how credible the taxi driver witness is being considered when there is the report of the abduction of a baby. The crimes must be connected, but where is the baby? A complex case for Lola and her team to solve and one that will turn unexpectedly dark.
The plot is certainly clever. After the initial murder and abduction, which form the investigation, it connects to the local Clyde University, and then motivations become unclear. The reader realises that there is more to it than originally appeared and this kept me guessing until the end.
It becomes apparent that it’s a story about power, influence and exploitation. The baby’s father works on a cybercrime task force with the ACC and so uses his influence with him to interfere with the investigation. Lola has enough to deal without this. At the university Lola and the team are constantly thwarted by the CEO in a bureaucracy powerplay that also draws in the chairman and the Establishment. More than petty bureaucrats, these are people of influence, on large salaries and overseeing multimillion pound budgets. The characterisation here was brilliant, if a little unkind, skewering the vanity and pomposity, hinting that success in the public sector might not always be down to ability. Here it goes beyond the building of personal fiefdoms, the sense that they will protect its reputation at all costs. In the end it is women, as ever, who bear the brunt of the exploitation.
The pacing is well judged, brisk at times, but also allowing the tension to build up. The final third is totally gripping as it builds up to an action-packed conclusion filled with danger a jeopardy, which thriller fans will enjoy. It is also tinged with a touch of sadness and reflection as befits the seriousness of the subject.
The crime behind the abduction is one that is rarely covered in UK crime fiction so adds a touch of original thinking, which is always welcomed.
December 18, 2025
The sixth book in the Detective Lola Harris series, it works perfectly on its own. From the very first chapter, the atmosphere was tense and unsettling a woman is found dead, and there are whispers of a missing baby. That combination immediately hooked me, and I couldn’t stop reading.
What I really enjoyed was how layered the mystery was. Every time Lola tried to move forward, she ran into resistance, lies, or half-truths. It felt like everyone had something to hide, and that made the investigation even more gripping. The twists came steadily.
Lola Harris is such a strong lead character. She’s determined, empathetic, and refuses to back down even when pressured by those above her. I liked how she balanced compassion with sharp instincts, and how her team supported her throughout the case.
A tense and dramatic conclusion.
A gripping police procedural with plenty of suspense. It kept me guessing and reminded me why I love crime fiction.
What I really enjoyed was how layered the mystery was. Every time Lola tried to move forward, she ran into resistance, lies, or half-truths. It felt like everyone had something to hide, and that made the investigation even more gripping. The twists came steadily.
Lola Harris is such a strong lead character. She’s determined, empathetic, and refuses to back down even when pressured by those above her. I liked how she balanced compassion with sharp instincts, and how her team supported her throughout the case.
A tense and dramatic conclusion.
A gripping police procedural with plenty of suspense. It kept me guessing and reminded me why I love crime fiction.
December 5, 2025
Like a number of the reviewers, I hadn't read the earlier books, but this is easily read as a standalone. It is the 6th and final book in the series. I thought this was a well written and an excellent book. It's hard not to be impressed by the DCI determination and being prepared to risk her career to solve the various crimes. As always with these good UK crime series Lola is supported by a string team, no doubt built by her. She refuses to give up despites the many different twists and turns and the deliberate distractions which makes the book even more enjoyable. A first-class author worth following.
December 1, 2025
This was part of a series which I didn’t know when I started reading this book. Unlike most books in a series, the author didn’t give a lot (or any, in some cases) backstory so I struggled to understand or follow some of the character interactions. Other than that, it was a solid read with an unexpected and interesting twist. I will go back and start the series at the beginning which tells you the author did a great job telling a story.
I would like to thank Joffe Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I would like to thank Joffe Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.
December 2, 2025
Murder in Darnley Glen by Daniel Sellers
🌟🌟🌟🌟
Such a good book!
Never knowing what was going to happen next
I loved Detective Lola. She never left any stone unturned. Having doubts about everyone is her speciality! Never trusting anyone
Dixon obviously has something to hide
Carstairs obviously has something to hide
Missing students, a missing baby
End to end twists and turns. A real page turner
🌟🌟🌟🌟
Such a good book!
Never knowing what was going to happen next
I loved Detective Lola. She never left any stone unturned. Having doubts about everyone is her speciality! Never trusting anyone
Dixon obviously has something to hide
Carstairs obviously has something to hide
Missing students, a missing baby
End to end twists and turns. A real page turner
December 4, 2025
This is the 6th and final book in the series, it can also be read as a standalone. This is my first read by this author, and the writing was outstanding! I loved the FMC determination and her presence in general. She refuses to give up, and is iffy about everyone (as she should be). The twist and turns had me hooked! The red herrings and mis-directions oh my. Once I started reading, I was hooked. If you like cozy detective mysteries, youll love this!
December 3, 2025
Intriguing book
Daniel Sellers is a very good author, and I completely enjoyed the very intriguing story, a lot of twists and turns, but the ending was a total surprise to me
Thank you for being a great author.
Daniel Sellers is a very good author, and I completely enjoyed the very intriguing story, a lot of twists and turns, but the ending was a total surprise to me
Thank you for being a great author.
December 22, 2025
great read
Story moves briskly and in a believable sort of way, the writing is solid and doesn’t get in the way of the story
Story moves briskly and in a believable sort of way, the writing is solid and doesn’t get in the way of the story
January 3, 2026
good final book
Annoying that the audible book can’t be played along side the kindle version. Good story with a mixture of short and long chapters
Annoying that the audible book can’t be played along side the kindle version. Good story with a mixture of short and long chapters
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews