What do you think?
Rate this book
DCI Craig Gillard #2
The Body on the Shore
General Fiction (Adult) , Mystery & Thrillers
344 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 3, 2018
789 people are currently reading
448 people want to read
About the author
Nick Louth
41 books290 followersNick Louth is a freelance journalist and author, based in Lincolnshire UK.
Before beginning writing fiction, he was a foreign correspondent for Reuters news agency, and a regular contributor to the Financial Times, MSN, and many financial magazines.
Before beginning writing fiction, he was a foreign correspondent for Reuters news agency, and a regular contributor to the Financial Times, MSN, and many financial magazines.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 245 reviews
September 13, 2018
A successful architect, Peter Young, is assassinated - shot with two bullets through his office window. A body is found on a remote Lincolnshire shore. Two Albanian children, adopted by a wealthy couple, Sophie and Dag Lund, suddenly disappear. Abducted? Are these seemingly unrelated events connected in any way? DCI Craig Gillard was the on-call detective in Surrey when Young was killed. How was Young shot through his 2nd storey office window? From a high vantage point?
Strange symbols are found at the various locations. Geoff Meadows, a former detective chief superintendent at the National Crime Agency is one of the few experts on Albanian crime outside academia. He recognises the symbol as the triple-headed eagle of the Dragusha clan, a notorious Albanian mafia family.
The police investigation will find connections that take Gillard to Albania and become embroiled in the blood feud between the Dragusha and Kreshniki crime families. Assisted by Sergeant Tokaj:
'This is the empire of blood,' Tokaj said, spreading his hands. 'Built on violence, extended through marriage, cemented by corruption and bulwarked by fear.'
Why is Gillard in Albania? Why has he put himself in harm's way? No more spoilers. Read it and find out. The Body on the Shore is different - full of menace and dark moments and a totally unexpected twist that is breathtaking in its audacity.
Strange symbols are found at the various locations. Geoff Meadows, a former detective chief superintendent at the National Crime Agency is one of the few experts on Albanian crime outside academia. He recognises the symbol as the triple-headed eagle of the Dragusha clan, a notorious Albanian mafia family.
The police investigation will find connections that take Gillard to Albania and become embroiled in the blood feud between the Dragusha and Kreshniki crime families. Assisted by Sergeant Tokaj:
'This is the empire of blood,' Tokaj said, spreading his hands. 'Built on violence, extended through marriage, cemented by corruption and bulwarked by fear.'
Why is Gillard in Albania? Why has he put himself in harm's way? No more spoilers. Read it and find out. The Body on the Shore is different - full of menace and dark moments and a totally unexpected twist that is breathtaking in its audacity.
March 10, 2023
The Body on the Shore is a low 4, maybe a 3.75 for reasons I will describe later.
A young architect named Peter Young is shot, through the second-story (first floor in Europe) window, while at his desk early one morning. Where was he shot from? DCI Craig Gillard and his team are on the case immediately. As they investigate, they find that Peter has a somewhat murky background. In fact, he seems to have come from Eastern Europe as a youth with very little documentation.
Very shortly thereafter, a young girl living on a quite large estate tells her mother that she's seen an angel through her bedroom window and he was speaking to her in Albanian. She knows that he's speaking Albanian because that was her native language before being brought to England with her brother where the two were now the foster children of a wealthy industrialist.
It seems that all clues point to Albania including an Italian Aunt to the two children with whom they were very close. All indications are that she took them with her but to where? And for what purpose? Gillard feels that the answers to the questions lie in Albania so that is where he has to go. He teams up with an Albanian cop to look for the children and finds out that they are not ordinary children but rather...
Louth does a very good job of creating an interesting and engaging plot populated with colorful and. for the most part, fairly realistic and very interesting characters. The story requires that you suspend reality from time to time but not so much so that it becomes silly. There is, however, some inconsistency built in by the author. For example, Peter meets an old farmer in a very remote area who tells him that he speaks very little English. Nonetheless, they have a detailed conversation wherein the farmer seems to be quite fluent. Later, however, he has to act out/pantomime things for which the earlier conversation clearly indicated he had the necessary vocabulary. This type of inconsistency in a book always bothers me. Of course, I am a real nit-picker but this was a nit crying out to be picked.
Nonetheless, the story was interesting, and to a fair degree, suspenseful, which is why I gave it a four. I had enjoyed the first book in the DCI Craig Gillard series and I enjoyed this one enough to read the third in the future. I would recommend that you start with the first book in the series and, if you like that, you might give this one a shot.
finito
A young architect named Peter Young is shot, through the second-story (first floor in Europe) window, while at his desk early one morning. Where was he shot from? DCI Craig Gillard and his team are on the case immediately. As they investigate, they find that Peter has a somewhat murky background. In fact, he seems to have come from Eastern Europe as a youth with very little documentation.
Very shortly thereafter, a young girl living on a quite large estate tells her mother that she's seen an angel through her bedroom window and he was speaking to her in Albanian. She knows that he's speaking Albanian because that was her native language before being brought to England with her brother where the two were now the foster children of a wealthy industrialist.
It seems that all clues point to Albania including an Italian Aunt to the two children with whom they were very close. All indications are that she took them with her but to where? And for what purpose? Gillard feels that the answers to the questions lie in Albania so that is where he has to go. He teams up with an Albanian cop to look for the children and finds out that they are not ordinary children but rather...
Louth does a very good job of creating an interesting and engaging plot populated with colorful and. for the most part, fairly realistic and very interesting characters. The story requires that you suspend reality from time to time but not so much so that it becomes silly. There is, however, some inconsistency built in by the author. For example, Peter meets an old farmer in a very remote area who tells him that he speaks very little English. Nonetheless, they have a detailed conversation wherein the farmer seems to be quite fluent. Later, however, he has to act out/pantomime things for which the earlier conversation clearly indicated he had the necessary vocabulary. This type of inconsistency in a book always bothers me. Of course, I am a real nit-picker but this was a nit crying out to be picked.
Nonetheless, the story was interesting, and to a fair degree, suspenseful, which is why I gave it a four. I had enjoyed the first book in the DCI Craig Gillard series and I enjoyed this one enough to read the third in the future. I would recommend that you start with the first book in the series and, if you like that, you might give this one a shot.
finito
June 29, 2019
My opinion of this second in the series has been negatively influenced by the narrator's performance and portrayal of DCI Craig Gillard. The same narrator as book one, but for some reason, he read Gillard so differently it lowered my overall enjoyment of the book. There were also parts of the book where the writing added to my irritation of Gillard's portrayal; i.e., his refusal to take the mother's concerns seriously; blocking her calls and passing her to others of lower rank. I also missed the old Sam, Gillard's wife, from the character in book one. Sam became a lay-around housewife whose main purpose appeared to be taking care of, and loving, Gillard. Where was the fiery, smart, policewoman from the first novel?
May come back and change this review after giving more thought to the storyline.
May come back and change this review after giving more thought to the storyline.
April 15, 2021
I liked it untill the MC went to Albania and the plot moved into the world of the Albanian Mafia and family blood feuds. The news here are full with stories about criminal family cluns, they become a huge problem in many German big cities, I simply don't want to read about them in my spare time.
Besides, I had a feeling that the author put all his enthusiasm into the blood feuds and forgot to invest more into the characters from the first book.
Besides, I had a feeling that the author put all his enthusiasm into the blood feuds and forgot to invest more into the characters from the first book.
July 9, 2023
Meat and potatoes police procedural.
Make that fish and chips because it's set in London.
Too dry for my palate. Doesn't have the energy or charisma of Harry Bosch books.
The dialogue and banter between the characters was lacking.
I will not continue with this series.
Make that fish and chips because it's set in London.
Too dry for my palate. Doesn't have the energy or charisma of Harry Bosch books.
The dialogue and banter between the characters was lacking.
I will not continue with this series.
October 18, 2018
DCI Craig Gillard is really in the wars in this story. Its starts with the shooting death of a young architect, Peter Young. As they work the scene it looks increasingly like an execution. But who would want to kill this guy, this husband and father? Police learn he came to England from Kosovo as a 15 year old but is ethnically Albanian.
Meanwhile Sophie Lund, living on an isolate estate notices some disturbing occurrences around the place. When local police pooh pooh her fears, she digs out Gillard's card and calls him. He's not convinced but does note that her two children are adopted orphans from Albania. Also meanwhile, a body is discovered miles away on a remote Lincolnshire coast. Weeks later it is discovered that it too is, you guessed it, Albanian.
Long story short, Gillard goes to Albania to see if he can find Sophie Lund's children who have since been kidnapped and if he can work out how all this ties together. What he discovers is a never ending blood feud between rival clans that threatens anyone (including him) or anything that stands in the way of vengeance.
This was a well put together story, fast paced and quite sad actually. I'm enjoying the Nick Louth books I've read so far.
Meanwhile Sophie Lund, living on an isolate estate notices some disturbing occurrences around the place. When local police pooh pooh her fears, she digs out Gillard's card and calls him. He's not convinced but does note that her two children are adopted orphans from Albania. Also meanwhile, a body is discovered miles away on a remote Lincolnshire coast. Weeks later it is discovered that it too is, you guessed it, Albanian.
Long story short, Gillard goes to Albania to see if he can find Sophie Lund's children who have since been kidnapped and if he can work out how all this ties together. What he discovers is a never ending blood feud between rival clans that threatens anyone (including him) or anything that stands in the way of vengeance.
This was a well put together story, fast paced and quite sad actually. I'm enjoying the Nick Louth books I've read so far.
June 29, 2019
2.5 stars. I was rather disappointed in this 2nd novel. For one thing I found the story veered off into Albanian mafia warfare: not the sort of story I would choose voluntarily. I also found some parts highly implausible. And Sam, a character I appreciated in the first novel is, sadly, very absent in this latest novel, only appearing as a wishy-washy housewife.
November 30, 2018
This is the second book in the DCI Gillard series set in Surrey, but could easily be read as a stand-alone, as it’s a completely separate story and the characters’ backstories are filled in just the right amount. This picks up about two years after the events of The Body in the Marsh, and while that case is referred to briefly at times, the only significant spoiler for it is that Craig is now happily married to Sam.
Craig is assigned the case of a young architect, shot dead in his office. While the man had no apparent enemies, it turns out he came to Britain alone as a refugee from Kosovo at the age of 15, and thanks to some caring foster parents was able to make a success of his life. The case goes nowhere until the wealthy adoptive mother of two Albanian children contacts Craig to report a series of disturbing events around her home. He doesn’t think the cases can be connected until the children are kidnapped. Then a body is found on a remote Lincolnshire beach, who turns out to be a close DNA match to the missing kids. With evidence suggesting the involvement of the worst branch of the Albanian Mafia, Craig must travel there to try and save the children - and himself.
I enjoyed the first book in this series, but the mystery was no surprise. This second book is a much more accomplished thriller and I was shocked by the reveal of the perpetrator. There was lots of interesting information about Albania, a country I knew very little about. I liked Craig better as a hero this time, although could’ve done without reading about him drying his testicles and that his wife likes meat for breakfast. 🤪
I received this free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, but unfortunately didn’t manage to read it in time for the publication deadline, because I got carried away and requested more than I could get through - lesson about limits learned. I also wanted to read the book one first, so had bought that and then got further and further behind... So this was actually published over two months ago - my apologies for this. I look forward to continuing the series.
Craig is assigned the case of a young architect, shot dead in his office. While the man had no apparent enemies, it turns out he came to Britain alone as a refugee from Kosovo at the age of 15, and thanks to some caring foster parents was able to make a success of his life. The case goes nowhere until the wealthy adoptive mother of two Albanian children contacts Craig to report a series of disturbing events around her home. He doesn’t think the cases can be connected until the children are kidnapped. Then a body is found on a remote Lincolnshire beach, who turns out to be a close DNA match to the missing kids. With evidence suggesting the involvement of the worst branch of the Albanian Mafia, Craig must travel there to try and save the children - and himself.
I enjoyed the first book in this series, but the mystery was no surprise. This second book is a much more accomplished thriller and I was shocked by the reveal of the perpetrator. There was lots of interesting information about Albania, a country I knew very little about. I liked Craig better as a hero this time, although could’ve done without reading about him drying his testicles and that his wife likes meat for breakfast. 🤪
I received this free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, but unfortunately didn’t manage to read it in time for the publication deadline, because I got carried away and requested more than I could get through - lesson about limits learned. I also wanted to read the book one first, so had bought that and then got further and further behind... So this was actually published over two months ago - my apologies for this. I look forward to continuing the series.
February 19, 2023
(3.5) Still really enjoying this series & the continuing characters.. But the mafia wars in Albania were not quite up my alley.
July 15, 2023
I was so happy with book one in this series, I immediately listened to book two. I found it slightly strange - all that talk about Albanian mafia, all the travelling and ultimately the (for me at least) not very satisfying ending.
I'm also wondering why Craig Gillards wife Sam, a PCSO in the first book, suddenly play only a very minor role. She's quit the police force and all she seems to do is cook and clean. Granted, she works as a civilian with the police, but why??? She could have had a very promising career herself. I wonder what will happen in future books in this series with her role, because I really liked her.
I'm also wondering why Craig Gillards wife Sam, a PCSO in the first book, suddenly play only a very minor role. She's quit the police force and all she seems to do is cook and clean. Granted, she works as a civilian with the police, but why??? She could have had a very promising career herself. I wonder what will happen in future books in this series with her role, because I really liked her.
March 3, 2020
I started this book sometime in 2019, was intrigued by the beginning, but then had to put it aside and only now got back to it.
An imaginative, well-crafted plot and good location descriptions are the strength of this book. The writing style is competent but not special, character development doesn't figure in, and no great moral/ethical issues are addressed. So, none of my favorite elements of a crime novel are present.
But the plot is clever and well presented. Louth pulls together seemingly unconnected elements smoothly. And (always important to me), the female characters are neither all good, nor bad, nor smart, nor dumb. They function to move the story along much the same as the men.
In short, although it wasn't a life-altering read and won't make it to my favorites list, I really enjoyed the book and feel comfortable recommending it to anyone who likes crime fiction.
An imaginative, well-crafted plot and good location descriptions are the strength of this book. The writing style is competent but not special, character development doesn't figure in, and no great moral/ethical issues are addressed. So, none of my favorite elements of a crime novel are present.
But the plot is clever and well presented. Louth pulls together seemingly unconnected elements smoothly. And (always important to me), the female characters are neither all good, nor bad, nor smart, nor dumb. They function to move the story along much the same as the men.
In short, although it wasn't a life-altering read and won't make it to my favorites list, I really enjoyed the book and feel comfortable recommending it to anyone who likes crime fiction.
September 1, 2018
The Body on the Shore by Nick Louth
DCI Gillard #2
DCI Craig Gillard is called in to solve the murder of a young architect killed at his desk. With his team working hard they figure out where the shot was fired from, do the legwork to find out who might have been involved and are lead into a world of the Albanian Mafia and family blood feuds. I have read of such feuds before and find them horrific in that they seem to ascribe to the idea that nobody with a drop of family blood in the family one is feuding with should be left alive…no matter their gender or age or anything else. It seems the only way such a feud can end is with the last one standing on one side or the other being done in, too.
I did enjoy the story but found it a bit hard to believe at times. For the story to happen as it was laid out many factors would need to align perfectly to have the players in the right place at the right time and for all factors to line up as they did. That said, it is fiction and was entertaining and I would read another book in the series. I had not read the first book in the series so am not sure what information I might be missing about Gillard and his team but felt I was able to follow the story without having read book one.
I was unsure whether or not or how often police in the UK might travel to another country when on a case so did search and found that it happens and that there is protocol in place for such international cooperation.
Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for the ARC – This is my honest review.
3-4 Stars
DCI Gillard #2
DCI Craig Gillard is called in to solve the murder of a young architect killed at his desk. With his team working hard they figure out where the shot was fired from, do the legwork to find out who might have been involved and are lead into a world of the Albanian Mafia and family blood feuds. I have read of such feuds before and find them horrific in that they seem to ascribe to the idea that nobody with a drop of family blood in the family one is feuding with should be left alive…no matter their gender or age or anything else. It seems the only way such a feud can end is with the last one standing on one side or the other being done in, too.
I did enjoy the story but found it a bit hard to believe at times. For the story to happen as it was laid out many factors would need to align perfectly to have the players in the right place at the right time and for all factors to line up as they did. That said, it is fiction and was entertaining and I would read another book in the series. I had not read the first book in the series so am not sure what information I might be missing about Gillard and his team but felt I was able to follow the story without having read book one.
I was unsure whether or not or how often police in the UK might travel to another country when on a case so did search and found that it happens and that there is protocol in place for such international cooperation.
Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for the ARC – This is my honest review.
3-4 Stars
February 27, 2025
3.5 🌟 story
1 🌟 performance
This intricate storyline was marred by plot holes and horrid narration.
Full RTC
1 🌟 performance
This intricate storyline was marred by plot holes and horrid narration.
Full RTC
October 26, 2020
Between 4 to 4.5 stars.
Real good 😊
Real good 😊
October 2, 2022
Three word summary: Brit vs. Slavs
Book 2 wasn't quite as amazing as book 1, but it was still strongly engaging. I was never tempted to put it aside in favor of another book (I usually have multiple books I'm working on).
I paid $2.99 for it but I see it's on sale for $0.99 right now, along with a few others in the series. Give it a try! I've already bought the next two books.
Book 2 wasn't quite as amazing as book 1, but it was still strongly engaging. I was never tempted to put it aside in favor of another book (I usually have multiple books I'm working on).
I paid $2.99 for it but I see it's on sale for $0.99 right now, along with a few others in the series. Give it a try! I've already bought the next two books.
August 31, 2018
This is book 2 in the DCI Gillard series. A solid police procedural, it opens with the shooting of a young architect in his office. The murder bears all the hallmarks of a professional hit - 2 hollow point bullets fired through the window of an office building in a busy street at 8 in the morning.
Gillard's investigation discovers that the victim, Peter Young, is a refugee from the 1998/99 war in Kosovo. As one of Gillard's detective team says: "Who'd want to kill an architect?"
As they try to figure out why Peter Young was murdered, the body of a young man is found on a beach on the Lincolnshire coast. The victim is unidentified but he has a strange brand burned into his neck. This leads Gillard's team to discover that Albanian gangsters may be involved in both killings.
There's a bit of humour mixed into the story by the author Nick Louth, as one of the main characters is named Sophie Lund (Sofie Gråbøl was the actress who played the lead character - police detective Sarah Lund - in the Danish TV series "The Killing"). Sophie Lund's husband is called Dag and "Dag" is the name of the lead in the Norwegian TV comedy of the same name.
The police investigation is set out in great detail and I felt that this slowed down the action more than a little as did a domestic dispute between Sophie Lund and her "posh" neighbour and details of that neighbour's relationship with Gillard's female boss.
The story continues with the murder investigation taking something of a back seat as Sophie Lund's children are kidnapped. It transpires that the children were adopted and were born in Albania, reinforcing the idea that Albanian criminals are involved with a possible blood feud being at the heart of both the kidnapping and the killings.
All in all this is a decent mystery thriller, although I felt I would have benefited from reading "The Body In The Marsh", the first in the DCI Gillard series. For fans of detailed police procedurals, this book is a must.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Canelo for the chance to read this book in return for an unbiased review.
Gillard's investigation discovers that the victim, Peter Young, is a refugee from the 1998/99 war in Kosovo. As one of Gillard's detective team says: "Who'd want to kill an architect?"
As they try to figure out why Peter Young was murdered, the body of a young man is found on a beach on the Lincolnshire coast. The victim is unidentified but he has a strange brand burned into his neck. This leads Gillard's team to discover that Albanian gangsters may be involved in both killings.
There's a bit of humour mixed into the story by the author Nick Louth, as one of the main characters is named Sophie Lund (Sofie Gråbøl was the actress who played the lead character - police detective Sarah Lund - in the Danish TV series "The Killing"). Sophie Lund's husband is called Dag and "Dag" is the name of the lead in the Norwegian TV comedy of the same name.
The police investigation is set out in great detail and I felt that this slowed down the action more than a little as did a domestic dispute between Sophie Lund and her "posh" neighbour and details of that neighbour's relationship with Gillard's female boss.
The story continues with the murder investigation taking something of a back seat as Sophie Lund's children are kidnapped. It transpires that the children were adopted and were born in Albania, reinforcing the idea that Albanian criminals are involved with a possible blood feud being at the heart of both the kidnapping and the killings.
All in all this is a decent mystery thriller, although I felt I would have benefited from reading "The Body In The Marsh", the first in the DCI Gillard series. For fans of detailed police procedurals, this book is a must.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Canelo for the chance to read this book in return for an unbiased review.
August 24, 2018
I would like to thank Netgalley and Canelo for an advance copy of The Body on the Shore, the second novel to feature DCI Craig Gillard of the Surrey police.
Gillard is tasked with investigating the shooting of architect Peter Young. As one of the team observes an architect is a most unusual, if not unique, victim but as they investigate they quickly discover that Peter Young's past is shrouded in mystery and offering few clues. In the meantime Gillard is fielding increasingly frantic calls from Sophie Lund whose house and family are being targeted in a series of bizarre events. Then another body is found shot to death on a remote Lincolnshire beach with enough similarities to Peter Young's death to warrant further investigation.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Body on the Shore which is an exhilarating, high octane thriller with hardly a dull moment and some very good, unexpected twists. It kept me up late as I just had to finish it one sitting. I'm unsure of how plausible it is but I found that I didn't care as I was so caught up in the action and adrenalin rush of the read. It just seems to move from one incident to the next with it all making warped sense within the plotline until an amazing conclusion which is audacious and outrageous while still making sense. The whole plot is unusual and clever so hats off to Mr Louth and his imagination.
Gillard is a much more settled character in this novel. He is now married to the understanding Sam so he has the time and frame of mind to apply himself diligently to his cases, all under the watchful eye of Chief Constable, Alison Rigby, with whom he has an uneasy relationship. He goes above and beyond to solve his case, putting himself in danger. It's exciting stuff.
The Body on the Shore is a great read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
Gillard is tasked with investigating the shooting of architect Peter Young. As one of the team observes an architect is a most unusual, if not unique, victim but as they investigate they quickly discover that Peter Young's past is shrouded in mystery and offering few clues. In the meantime Gillard is fielding increasingly frantic calls from Sophie Lund whose house and family are being targeted in a series of bizarre events. Then another body is found shot to death on a remote Lincolnshire beach with enough similarities to Peter Young's death to warrant further investigation.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Body on the Shore which is an exhilarating, high octane thriller with hardly a dull moment and some very good, unexpected twists. It kept me up late as I just had to finish it one sitting. I'm unsure of how plausible it is but I found that I didn't care as I was so caught up in the action and adrenalin rush of the read. It just seems to move from one incident to the next with it all making warped sense within the plotline until an amazing conclusion which is audacious and outrageous while still making sense. The whole plot is unusual and clever so hats off to Mr Louth and his imagination.
Gillard is a much more settled character in this novel. He is now married to the understanding Sam so he has the time and frame of mind to apply himself diligently to his cases, all under the watchful eye of Chief Constable, Alison Rigby, with whom he has an uneasy relationship. He goes above and beyond to solve his case, putting himself in danger. It's exciting stuff.
The Body on the Shore is a great read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
Read
August 27, 2018Simply put -- this is a great police procedural, the second in a new series by Nick Louth. Set in Surrey and featuring DCI Craig Gillard, the crime thriller is complex and absorbing and very hard to put down!
A young architect is murdered in his office one morning and Gillard gets the nod to lead the investigation. The few leads soon dry up and, though it looks like a professional assassination, the detectives can't figure out why anyone would want to kill the husband and father. Until they discover that he came to the UK as an orphan seeking asylum... In what comes to be a related case, a body is found on the shore of a remote beach. And, to complicate an already complicated situation, the two adopted children of a local woman are kidnapped leading Gillard deep into the not-so-hidden blood wars of the Albanian Mafia. NO SPOILERS.
The narrative is fast-paced with action as well as a focus on the various methods used by the police and Gillard's team to track down the suspects, recover the children, and figure out the motivations for the murders. The descriptions and detail are meticulous and is focused mainly on police activity with only a little about their personal lives. I can see a lot of potential for this great series and can't wait for #3. I was riveted by the backstory of the Albanians and their vendettas between families -- all interesting and new information for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for providing this e-book ARC for me to read and review. I highly recommend this series and am eager to see what case Gillard is tasked with next.
A young architect is murdered in his office one morning and Gillard gets the nod to lead the investigation. The few leads soon dry up and, though it looks like a professional assassination, the detectives can't figure out why anyone would want to kill the husband and father. Until they discover that he came to the UK as an orphan seeking asylum... In what comes to be a related case, a body is found on the shore of a remote beach. And, to complicate an already complicated situation, the two adopted children of a local woman are kidnapped leading Gillard deep into the not-so-hidden blood wars of the Albanian Mafia. NO SPOILERS.
The narrative is fast-paced with action as well as a focus on the various methods used by the police and Gillard's team to track down the suspects, recover the children, and figure out the motivations for the murders. The descriptions and detail are meticulous and is focused mainly on police activity with only a little about their personal lives. I can see a lot of potential for this great series and can't wait for #3. I was riveted by the backstory of the Albanians and their vendettas between families -- all interesting and new information for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for providing this e-book ARC for me to read and review. I highly recommend this series and am eager to see what case Gillard is tasked with next.
April 8, 2023
3.5 stars. Audiobook.
Second book in a series, but the first I’ve read.
Police procedural set in England and parts of Europe. I found the first half of the book a bit too much procedure and too little drama. The pace picks up in the second half with the case having links to Albania and the major crime families there. There are some interesting twists with the outcome. I have already purchased the first book in the series so i will read that.
Second book in a series, but the first I’ve read.
Police procedural set in England and parts of Europe. I found the first half of the book a bit too much procedure and too little drama. The pace picks up in the second half with the case having links to Albania and the major crime families there. There are some interesting twists with the outcome. I have already purchased the first book in the series so i will read that.
October 23, 2018
Another great thriller by Nick Louth. I am really glad that we get to catch up with the characters from the Body in the Marsh again. It is a fast-paced thriller with lots of twists and turns that are beautifully held together by a clear and satisfying story. Definitely a page-turner and a great read
September 24, 2018
Excellent read
Loved this next in series. Really well written, nice twist and turns and was a good complex story. Likeable characters and I liked that it was set in two counrtries, especially one I know nothing about. Can't wait for the next one!
Loved this next in series. Really well written, nice twist and turns and was a good complex story. Likeable characters and I liked that it was set in two counrtries, especially one I know nothing about. Can't wait for the next one!
January 29, 2025
A young architect is killed in his office. It is determined that the shots were made from the street below, but no one sa or heard anything. The case was assigned to DCI Craig Gillard. Through his investigation, he discovers that the murder is possibly tied to a crime family war based in Albania.
He makes the trip to Albania to further the investigation and what he discovers is astonishing.
Great story line and full of action and intrigue. Very well written
He makes the trip to Albania to further the investigation and what he discovers is astonishing.
Great story line and full of action and intrigue. Very well written
July 13, 2021
Another good, twisty, mystery with plenty of good police work to keep you interested. The characters continue to grow and mature, and are all quite believable. Very little (if any - I can't remember any) profanity.
Not only that, but the "hero" isn't all-knowing; he makes mistakes, and sometimes gets caught out. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series.
Not only that, but the "hero" isn't all-knowing; he makes mistakes, and sometimes gets caught out. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series.
February 24, 2019
After all I saw about the body in the marsh being a slow burn (but worth it) this book with the same detective team was bang straight in! It's like nick Louth knew it himself when writing this. Totally different sort of plot and much more focused on the detective storyline than anything to do with his personal life. I really enjoyed the way the book moved to Albania, I felt like I had learnt something new (although I have no idea whether the Mafia groups are really so dominant). The book felt well researched and the plot line although I kind of had a gut feeling about the murderer was well thought out and developed at a great pace. I hope that there will be some future DCI Gillard stories, there is something about him that is attractive and I'd love to see a future plot that involved more about him as a person. Looking forward to reading the next nick Louth book.
October 4, 2022
2.5 rounded up
Book two in this series and time has moved on with Gillard now married and investigating two murders and the abduction of two children, all with links to the Albanian Mafia. This was an easy read crime novel and I am encouraged to read book three in my search for a new series to escape into. My hope is that there might be more character development, which is not as strong as I would like for a series with regular protagonists.
Book two in this series and time has moved on with Gillard now married and investigating two murders and the abduction of two children, all with links to the Albanian Mafia. This was an easy read crime novel and I am encouraged to read book three in my search for a new series to escape into. My hope is that there might be more character development, which is not as strong as I would like for a series with regular protagonists.
March 2, 2025
I love the Gillard series, the writing is always great and never see the ending coming!
August 16, 2020
3.5 stars Not as good as the first book but I enjoyed it. Well written.
February 24, 2019
Best thriller
This starts like most other thrillers but ramps-up almost bizarrely to a mafia war in Albania. Really enjoyed it because this turned the story from a mundane police procedural into a very exciting hunt and escape. Would make a good movie
This starts like most other thrillers but ramps-up almost bizarrely to a mafia war in Albania. Really enjoyed it because this turned the story from a mundane police procedural into a very exciting hunt and escape. Would make a good movie
August 14, 2019
The Body on the Shore is the second in a series in which to be honest, I don’t remember much about the first. This was a really fast paced action thriller with something (bad) happening every minute. Explores immigration, adoption, family and revenge. 4 stars
January 5, 2024
Solid police procedural that can be read as a standalone. Almost DNF’d at hour 6, but forced myself to push on. I enjoyed book #1 and assumed book #2 would be better as is sometimes the case with series. Not this time however.
It is a good story, but too long and too detailed. In other words: boring. This series is rated high though so I’m obviously in the minority.
Also, I do not care for the narrator of this series. He does a great job as DCI Gillard, but when he talks as other characters, particularly the ones with accents, it’s bad.
It is a good story, but too long and too detailed. In other words: boring. This series is rated high though so I’m obviously in the minority.
Also, I do not care for the narrator of this series. He does a great job as DCI Gillard, but when he talks as other characters, particularly the ones with accents, it’s bad.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 245 reviews