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Second Chance
Two years ago, DCI Ewan McCall and his team were hunting a serial killer in the Highlands near Glencoe. Women were being abducted and murdered, and then their corpses were displayed in open shallow graves covered in white linen shrouds. McCall's partner, DS Jessie Kent, was taken. During the hunt for her, McCall tracked the killer down, but he was shot three times and left for dead. Less than an hour later, the killer took his own life.
None of the remaining victims was ever found.
Until now.
DI Megan Ross travels from Glencoe to Edinburgh to ask McCall for help. Somebody has found the decomposed victims and is displaying them in the remote forests near the small town. Despite having left the case behind four years ago, McCall sees this as a chance to find Jessie and bring her home to Edinburgh for a proper burial. And to lay to rest the feelings of guilt he's been carrying since that terrible day.
He agrees to return north with Megan Ross, but it's soon clear somebody doesn't want him back in the Highlands. He's warned off, but he ignores it.
Then the killings start.
Somebody has just accelerated the game from displaying corpses to adding new victims. And this time, he's making it personal...
None of the remaining victims was ever found.
Until now.
DI Megan Ross travels from Glencoe to Edinburgh to ask McCall for help. Somebody has found the decomposed victims and is displaying them in the remote forests near the small town. Despite having left the case behind four years ago, McCall sees this as a chance to find Jessie and bring her home to Edinburgh for a proper burial. And to lay to rest the feelings of guilt he's been carrying since that terrible day.
He agrees to return north with Megan Ross, but it's soon clear somebody doesn't want him back in the Highlands. He's warned off, but he ignores it.
Then the killings start.
Somebody has just accelerated the game from displaying corpses to adding new victims. And this time, he's making it personal...
- GenresScotland
374 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 16, 2026
About the author
John Carson
102 books182 followersJohn Carson is the author of the DI Frank Miller detective series. He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland and lived there most of his life. In 2006, he emigrated to New York State with his American wife and two daughters. They now live in a small town in the Hudson Valley where his wife was brought up, with a German Shepherd, a Beagle mix and four cats.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 17, 2026
Second chance
Brilliant brilliant book would definitely recommend this book to my friends five stars but deserved more but can't do that hoping for another book to follow
Brilliant brilliant book would definitely recommend this book to my friends five stars but deserved more but can't do that hoping for another book to follow
March 2, 2026
Sometimes a second chance is necessary.
This story started with the discovery of a body which had been left on a hillside, displayed in the manner of a killer who died two years earlier.
Now DI Megan Ross was tasked with going to Edinburgh to ask DCI Ewan McCall to return to Glencoe to assist in the search for the killer, someone he thought shot him two years ago, before committing suicide.
Megan and Ewan had a history, over twenty years earlier they had divorced, now they were going to be working together and it seemed that still may have feelings for each other.
I enjoyed the story, it was well paced, with mostly likeable characters. I guessed who the murderer was fairly early on, though it didn’t spoil my enjoyment of it. However, I thought the ending was a bit rushed, the explanations happened so quickly that I couldn’t quite assimilate it all. Also there were some storylines that weren’t resolved but I assumed they are for the next in the series.
This story started with the discovery of a body which had been left on a hillside, displayed in the manner of a killer who died two years earlier.
Now DI Megan Ross was tasked with going to Edinburgh to ask DCI Ewan McCall to return to Glencoe to assist in the search for the killer, someone he thought shot him two years ago, before committing suicide.
Megan and Ewan had a history, over twenty years earlier they had divorced, now they were going to be working together and it seemed that still may have feelings for each other.
I enjoyed the story, it was well paced, with mostly likeable characters. I guessed who the murderer was fairly early on, though it didn’t spoil my enjoyment of it. However, I thought the ending was a bit rushed, the explanations happened so quickly that I couldn’t quite assimilate it all. Also there were some storylines that weren’t resolved but I assumed they are for the next in the series.
February 17, 2026
A story full of twists
DCI Ewan McCall and DI Megan Ross are re-united when it appears a serial killer has started revealing his bodies again after 2 years, this throws Ewan and Megan back together once again, stirring up memories for them both of their marriage and divorce which they both seem to wish hadn't happened, this doesn't affect how they and the rest of the team set about foiling the killer this time, we are led through the crime scenes and theories of who has committed these terrible murders, ticking off first one suspect then another until the grand reveal at the end! This is going to be another great series of books by John Carson a worthy 5🌟 s, roll on yhe next one !!
DCI Ewan McCall and DI Megan Ross are re-united when it appears a serial killer has started revealing his bodies again after 2 years, this throws Ewan and Megan back together once again, stirring up memories for them both of their marriage and divorce which they both seem to wish hadn't happened, this doesn't affect how they and the rest of the team set about foiling the killer this time, we are led through the crime scenes and theories of who has committed these terrible murders, ticking off first one suspect then another until the grand reveal at the end! This is going to be another great series of books by John Carson a worthy 5🌟 s, roll on yhe next one !!
May 24, 2026
Comfortable Read, Sufficient Detours, What Happened to Jessica?
This is what I consider a GREAT read. It was very comfortable, moved along a little over the speed limit without running off the pavement in the corners. Sufficient turns, but none hairpin. A fair amount of traffic, but no roadblocks nor detours. Just a good COMFORTABLE read. I need these on occasion! Author Carson, for my first read of your books it will bring me back. Gud job. VR, Mags
This is what I consider a GREAT read. It was very comfortable, moved along a little over the speed limit without running off the pavement in the corners. Sufficient turns, but none hairpin. A fair amount of traffic, but no roadblocks nor detours. Just a good COMFORTABLE read. I need these on occasion! Author Carson, for my first read of your books it will bring me back. Gud job. VR, Mags
February 18, 2026
Fantastic start to a new series!
All I can really say is wow. And I thought I knew who the killer was. Count me wrong. This book just flowed and was so easy to read and get totally involved in. Then all of a sudden its over. And everything you thought you'd figured out, well you didnt! A+ writing and storyline!
All I can really say is wow. And I thought I knew who the killer was. Count me wrong. This book just flowed and was so easy to read and get totally involved in. Then all of a sudden its over. And everything you thought you'd figured out, well you didnt! A+ writing and storyline!
March 11, 2026
WOW!! Fantastic
What a GREAT book! Loved the characters, the storyline, the ending and the dogs! And the description of Scotland was so real if I closed my eyes I could see, smell and feel the ice, snow , trees wind and rain. Wish I could read this anew! But John Carson IS such an awesome writer...that I have quite a selection of books! Another job well done!!
What a GREAT book! Loved the characters, the storyline, the ending and the dogs! And the description of Scotland was so real if I closed my eyes I could see, smell and feel the ice, snow , trees wind and rain. Wish I could read this anew! But John Carson IS such an awesome writer...that I have quite a selection of books! Another job well done!!
March 18, 2026
A Great Start!
I’m a huge fan of John Carson. I started with the Frank Miller series. They are still my favorite! This start to a new series is fantastic! I enjoyed it very much. I look forward to many more books in this series. And maybe there will be visits from the other detectives. Beth P.
I’m a huge fan of John Carson. I started with the Frank Miller series. They are still my favorite! This start to a new series is fantastic! I enjoyed it very much. I look forward to many more books in this series. And maybe there will be visits from the other detectives. Beth P.
April 19, 2026
Well done!!
I find reviews really hard to write, but, you gotta help the authors, especially really good one. John Carson is a good author.
Love the locations, the great characters, and well written murders, that keep you guessing.
And old murder case, that was never finished, and a great team of detectives that work to solve it!
I find reviews really hard to write, but, you gotta help the authors, especially really good one. John Carson is a good author.
Love the locations, the great characters, and well written murders, that keep you guessing.
And old murder case, that was never finished, and a great team of detectives that work to solve it!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews