Nothing to Hide

DC Constance Fairchild #2

by James Oswald

Suspended from duty after her last case ended in the high-profile arrest of one of Britain's wealthiest men, DC Constance Fairchild is trying to stay away from the limelight. Fate has other ideas . . .

Coming home to her London flat, Constance stumbles across a young man, bloodied, mutilated and barely alive. She calls it in and is quickly thrown into the middle of a nationwide investigation . . . It seems that the victim is just the latest in a string of similar ritualistic attacks.

No matter that she is off-duty, no matter that there are those in the Met who would gladly see the back of her, Con can't shake her innate determination to bring the monsters responsible for this brutality to justice.

Trouble always seems to find her, and even if she has nothing to hide, perhaps she has everything to lose . . .

Genres: Crime, Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Detective, Urban Fantasy, Supernatural

380 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 25, 2019

Reviews

[Paromjit · Rating 5 out of 5]

James Oswald's new series featuring DC Constance Fairchild has a barnstorming new addition with Con still suspended after the fallout from the 1st book, and returning to London to provide input into the trial of the hugely powerful and wealthy Roger DeVilliers and the corrupt Detective Superintendent Gordon Bailey, responsible for the murder of her old boss. Con has the forlorn hope that she will have ceased to be of interest to the tabloid gutter press, only to find their intense rabid scrutiny fails to diminish as they doorstep her wherever she may be. As she puts out the trash, she discovers the barely alive body of a young black man, with his tongue and testicles removed. The arrival of DCI Ed Bain of the NCA who is miffed at her involvement, has her learning there have been other male bodies all round the country, all dead, with similar MOs including the removal of hearts.

Con finds herself an unpopular figure with the other cops, hostile at the part she played bringing down one of their own but begins to develop a tentative relationship with DC Karen Eve, a woman with ambitions of joining the NCA. Con cannot let what happened to Daniel Jones go as he lies in hospital, and as she continues to make the front pages of the tabloid press as the 'posh cop', she takes off for Edinburgh, where Jones grew up to find out more about him. She stays with Madame Rose, slightly bewildered by odd incidents and finds herself coincidentally bumping into Constable Janie Harrison, and invited to view another dead male body with connections to the NCA investigation. The wedding of Con's brother, Ben, and Charlotte is a source of friction as Ben absolutely refuses to have the Church of the Coming Light Reverend Dr Edward Masters officiate over his marriage as his mother desires. As Con meticulously follows all leads, she has little idea of the horrifying nightmare of darkness and danger she is to find herself in.

With Oswald, you just know the supernatural will play a part, particularly with the inclusion of Madame Rose and what we learn here about Con's favourite neighbour, Mrs Feltham who has taken Con under her protective wing. Con is a great character, determined, a tough cookie, becoming ever less estranged from her family, and whilst the police force in general fails to recognise her abilities, this is not the case with the NCA's Superintendent Diane Shepherd. This was a fantastic read, totally engrossing, fast paced and totally compulsive. Cannot wait for the next in the series! Many thanks to Headline for an ARC.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

DC Constance Fairchild is back in London… and back in trouble. Or maybe still in trouble, it’s hard to tell. It’s bad enough that her suspension’s not been lifted, that she’s on the receiving end of serious attitude from other police for rocking the boat, and that the gutter press won’t leave her alone… now there’s a crime scene right outside her flat. She’s been told to leave it, to keep a low profile, but after finding some poor boy dying beneath the rubbish, she’s not about to let that stand. Especially when she discovers that he’s far from the first. And she has no idea that this is an investigation that’s going to take her to the darkest of places, a fight for her very survival…

Firstly, let me say that I’ve never read James Oswald before, but this is the kind of book that immediately adds the author’s entire back catalogue to your TBR. It was that good. A proper read-it-in-a-day, can’t put it down experience that had me flying through one section so fast I had to go back and do it again.

Secondly, Con Fairchild is TROUBLE. This woman is a magnet for danger. Or bad luck. Or something. But what I love about her characterisation is that none of this is brought about by stupidity. Daring, sure. Determination to find out what’s going on, definitely. A serious disregard for following the rules or doing what she’d told by her superiors…. er… ok yeah. She ticks all the boxes for the best kind of (fictional) detectives: clever, capable, little bit maverick, little bit snarky. Actually, double tick that snarky box. I loved her. I can’t remember the last time I fell for a new crime series so hard.

But what makes this book so excellent is that it doesn’t rely on the main character to hold it all up. There’s an entire collection of interesting people who feel real and present and relatable, from the kindly yet mysterious neighbour to Con’s police colleagues, near and far. And this is where things get interesting because there’s a bit of crossover here with James Oswald’s Edinburgh series and it seems like it might be a bit supernatural?? Full of dangerous and dark things?? If so... Sign. Me. Up. There’s a touch of that here too and I’m all for it. In a genre where everything has to be explained, it’s fun to have a hint of the inexplicable. And there are cats, so obviously there’s magic involved.

As for the plot, it’s well done but not entirely surprising. I have a suspicious mind and there are a few things early on that set those bells jangling. There were a few times I had to give the book a serious talking to because, as anyone who reads or watches thrillers should know, some types of people are inherently dodgy and Constance really should have been investigating this particular avenue more thoroughly from the moment she saw them..... Sadly the characters have to follow the rules of real life and not fiction, so my interjections were in vain. But thankfully Con doesn’t slack, she works the case one piece of evidence at a time, always pushing, never letting up. She might get herself in trouble, but she gets herself out too. Watching her get chewed out by her boss every time she ends up in the middle of something or somewhere she's not supposed to be reminded me of every classic cop show and book I've ever seen or read. And I mean that in a good way. It brings a smile to my face writing about it now. She's the archetypal troublemaker and it works. Whatever difficulties she finds herself in next, I’m there for it. In the meantime, looks like I have 9 Inspector McLean books to catch up on…

ARC via Netgalley

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Constance Fairchild series by author James Oswald. I was really looking forward to this one following the first book 'No Time to Cry' which I thoroughly enjoyed. In all honesty the first half of this book was an improvement but I am not sure why I felt it just fizzled out.

DC Constance Fairchild is returning to her London home when she discovers a young man barely alive. His mutilated body is the latest such act in a strange unexplained ritualistic attack.

I really enjoy James Oswald's writing and love the Inspector McLean series and had high hopes for this one after the first book but what happened in the second half of this novel. The plot was well set up and the characters laid out and then it was as if the author lost his direction or interest. Hopefully a blip and I fully intend to continue reading both the McLean and Fairchild series. 

Everything is certainly in place for a good series of books, good characters and great writing but I feel that the plot in this one let it down.

[Bruce Hatton · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the second novel of this promising series Detective Constable Con Fairchild is still having to deal with the fallout from what happened in the first novel. Namely, her exposing a paedophile ring which numbered a wealthy businessman and senior police officer. As well as being regarded with suspicion, even hostility, from some of her fellow officers, she is continually being harassed by reporters from the gutter press who seem fixated on her privileged background.
Just when it seems as if things couldn't get any worse, Con discovers the almost dead body of a mutilated young man near her home. It turns out he isn't the first victim either and all these cases could be linked to some bizarre religious cult.
As in No Time To Cry, Con once again travels to Scotland, where she stays with Madame Rose; a regular in the Tony McLean books. The pace of the novel never lets up and there are plenty of thrills and surprises along the way. In Con Fairchild, James Oswald has created a highly original and engaging heroine and this series looks set to rival his Tony McLean one.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of James Oswald's McLean novels and I also enjoyed the first Fairchild novel. The characters and the writing in Nothing to Hide are as good as ever but I found that they weren't really backed up by the plot, which never seemed to get going. It's slow-moving and bitty, with the best moments preserved for Con's brief stay in Edinburgh. Con doesn't seem to do very much, she just gets in the way. But, as I say, fine writing as always and how fabulous to see Madame Rose again! Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

thanks to netgalley and the publishers for a free copy in return for an open and honest review.

enjoyed the latest in this new series and the dark nature of it as well. liked the links Oswald is gradually doing with both of his series with common characters. felt this one was darker than the first one in the series and kept a good pace as well. hope he continues with his series and keeps the dark nature which makes him an interesting crime thriller writer.

[T. K. Elliott (Tiffany) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really, really wanted to love this. James Oswald is one of my favourite authors, and although I didn’t enjoy the first Con Fairchild book as much as his Inspector McLean series, I hoped that this second Con Fairchild book would be different.

It wasn’t, only more so.

I shall therefore attempt to unpack why this is a three-star review for a book by someone I consider to be a five-star author.

Characters
Con Fairchild, the main character, is from a rich aristocratic family: she’s actually Lady Constance Fairchild. She is also a detective constable in the Metropolitan Police; in the last book, she was instrumental in breaking up a ring of corrupt police in her own unit. Now she’s suspended from duty and pretty much all her colleagues dislike her. This dislike is supposed to be because of what she did, but to be honest, the way she’s written, it comes across far more as if Con Fairchild is the kind of colleague whom, while you wouldn’t wish them to die in a fire, if you heard they’d been involved in a tragic accident you wouldn’t lose much sleep over it.

Con Fairchild is supposed to be a strong, independent woman, a maverick who goes her own way. To me, she comes across as a spoilt, entitled little rich girl playing at being ‘one of the people’ to annoy her family. Despite being 30 years old, she also comes across as rather immature: possibly because so much of what she does is directed against her family, and partly due to her admitted lack of desire for responsibility.

Other characters don’t really get much page-time. PC Karen Eve is back, and I expect she will be a fixture in the series. To honest, I think that will be a good thing – part of the reason Con seems so self-absorbed, I think, is because she doesn’t have a sidekick/friend. Not only does having a friend to relax with make a character seem less uptight, but it also performs the valuable narrative function of allowing the main character to discuss her ideas. Con doesn’t, at present, have that, which probably contributes to her seeming stand-offish.

There are also hints that other characters will become more important – Superintendent Diane Shepherd and DCI Ed Bain (a side note – I wonder if Oswald has read the Dan Shephard and Ed McBain books?) are promising, although in this book they only flitted on and off the page.

Plot
To be honest, I could live with Con’s tiresomeness if the plot had been as exciting/dark/weird as Oswald’s McLean books. Unfortunately, Con is not in McLean’s league in any respect. She doesn’t appear to be much of an investigator – she spends much of the book wandering around aimlessly, occasionally stumbling into a clue. She also goes to a family wedding and two funerals, and stays with family friends. At no point did she seem to really care about the murders she was allegedly investigating (or indeed about her job).

The plot… lacked. I kept waiting for Con to start acting instead of reacting, or actually investigating – about the most investigative thing she did was to watch some CCTV footage. Even the grand finale isn’t due to anything she did, but due to her wandering aimlessly and then having the narrative equivalent of a piano fall on her head.

When Con does stumble across a clue, she often doesn’t follow it up – on several occasions, she notices something important, and I expected that the next scene would show her investigating further – but she never did.

Setting
Mostly this is set in London, although you can’t really tell. It’s obvious that for Oswald, Scotland is where his heart lives; London is just somewhere on the map. If you’re paying attention, you can tell the difference in the narrative: London gets just enough description so you know the action isn’t taking place in a black room, like a minimalist play with no scenery. However, when the action shifts to Edinburgh, you get a breeze blowing across the Firth of Forth and ‘traditionally Scottish ornate cornicework’.

Conclusion
The fact that I finished this book at all, and until near the end was contemplating giving it four stars is a testament to Oswald’s skill as a writer. I don’t like Con Fairchild, but the story kept me going until close to the end – it was only then, and when I sat down to think about what I’d read, that the weaknesses became apparent.

If you’ve never read any of Oswald’s books before, this is not a good place to start – not only is this not the first in the series (although it will stand alone) but the McLean books are a much better display of the author’s talent.

Will I carry on? I honestly don’t know. I hope that this series gets better; I wonder if some of the weaknesses come from the difficulty inherent in trying to write a police procedural when the main character isn’t on active duty for most of the book, especially with a main character who seems to have no friends to interact with.

In short, I think Con Fairchild could learn a lot from Tony McLean!

[Joanna Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a huge fan of this author’s books as they are always fantastic, gritty and dark stories which I really enjoy! This story had a bit of a modern feel to it as it included witch doctors and spice addicts which have both been in the news recently. This instantly intrigued me and also made the story seem very real as I knew that some of the things in this book could actually happen.

I loved Constance Fairchild, the main character, and the attitude she has to what other people think which was very inspiring. She really doesn’t care what others think of her and is able to stand up for herself when needed which had me cheering for her in all the awkward situations she finds herself in. I liked that she is so supportive to other female police officers and lends her support to them when needed. My frustration with how her colleagues were treating her meant I was firmly on her side and I wanted to keep reading to find out if she would prove them all wrong.

Part of this book is set in Edinburgh, which is one of my favourite cities so I enjoyed following Constance on her visit there. This part also features a bit of a cross over with characters from the MacLean series which as a huge fan of the series I found hugely enjoyable. I’d love the two teams to feature in future books!

I found this a fast paced, gripping read which I found hard to put down. There are lots of twists and turns to keep the reader very interested in the story, which helped keep me guessing what was going on. I had to keep reading to find out what was happening and to see if Fairchild comes out on top again.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Wildfire Books for my copy of this book. I can’t wait to read more!

[Mary Picken · Rating 4 out of 5]

More and more this series is feeling like it’s my happy place. Not, I hasten to add, because it is all sweetness and light; far from it. But I love James Oswald’s characters and in the Con Fairchild novels he’s got all the ingredients for a cracking crime novel with a difference and when he mixes them together he gets the balance and texture spot on.

Con Fairchild is Lady Constance Fairchild, though her title is not something she would dream of using. The tabloids refer to her as ‘the Posh Cop’ ever since she uncovered a web of corruption which led to the murder of her old boss.

She’s been suspended since then, awaiting her opportunity to testify at the trial of wealthy businessman Roger De Villiers and D.S. Gordon Bailey who between them ran a murky business empire.

Con isn’t all that popular with some members of her own force, either, Cops died in the final fall out that Con was at the heart of and that won’t be forgotten for a very long time. So she’s returned home to her cold and stark London flat, where she does her best to avoid the journalists that seem to be dogging her every footstep.

She’s hardly back before she discovers a young black man by the bins behind her flat, badly injured, his tongue and testicles removed. DCI Bain of the NCA doesn’t want Con involved because of her profile and her suspension, but what she has stumbled on belongs squarely to an active investigation Bain is leading, dealing with similar bodies, except that these were all dead.

Con, aptly named for such a dogged, determined woman, needs to know what happened to this young man and a chance encounter with a young woman elicits a name, at least, before the woman runs off. To avoid the press and make herself useful, Bain agrees that she should go and talk to the young man’s mother, who lives in Edinburgh.

On her way she calls in home and stays with her Aunt Felicity. Her brother Ben is getting married to Charlotte shortly and Con needs to tell her mother that she won’t be attending. The last thing Charlotte and Ben need is a bunch of paps turning up at their wedding in search of the ‘Posh cop’ and her family.

Her mother introduces her to an imposing figure, The Reverend Dr Edward Masters of the Church of the Coming Light. She knows their name because she has seen them taking some of the homeless and drug addicts off the streets in London, near where she lives.

In Edinburgh, she stays with the delightful, mysterious Madame Rose, who as ever is able to anticipate her every need and it isn’t long before she becomes embroiled in another dead body case with remarkably similar hallmarks.

Con can smell the evil that’s surrounding these bodies and she’s got a pretty good idea where it’s coming from. The only question is whether she can stay alive long enough to solve the case and bring the perpetrator to justice.

Nothing to Hide can be read as a stand-alone as sufficient backstory is given, but with such a new series, I’d start from the beginning to get the whole picture. We’re learning more about Con as the story develops and she’s beginning to take shape a lot more clearly in my mind now, as I learn things about her personal characteristics as well as her attitudes and friendships.

Con is lucky to have made a tentative friendship with DC Karen Eve, as both women are likely to join the National Crime Agency and I hope we will see them working together more in future books in the series. One of Con’s drawbacks to date has been her isolation; the difficulty she has in making friends and having someone with whom to share theories and ideas, so a permanent friendship or sidekick would be a boon for her. I liked Con’s neighbour Mrs Feltham, and a new character, Superintendent Diane Shepherd is shaping up to be really interesting! I must say that Oswald does write his women characters well.

I really enjoy the sense of something other worldly that imbues these books; just out of reach of explanation, never tangible enough to grasp, but there in plain sight, all the same. The ambiguity of dealing with ritualistic crimes and looking for legal justice leads to a fascinating and utterly compelling tension that keeps the reader transfixed.

Verdict: Great characters, a complex murder investigation within a well layered plot with lots of action and some cracking, disturbing, moments. I loved Nothing to Hide.

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Headline for an advance copy of Nothing to Hide, the second novel to feature DC Con Fairchild of the Met.

Still suspended Con has been out of London for months to escape the relentless pursuit of the paparazzi but now she has returned home to prepare for the court case responsible for her suspension. A quick trip to the communal bins leads her to find a badly injured youth and an encounter with DCI Bain of the NCA who informs her that this ritualistic attack is the latest in a countrywide series.

I thoroughly enjoyed Nothing to Hide which is an exciting read that held my attention from start to finish, to the extent that I read it in one sitting. It is told in the first person by Con which allows the reader to identify with her and get absorbed in her perspective and as there is always something going on this is easy. The plot builds well with two strands of interest, Con’s on/off involvement in the investigation and the fallout from her previous case, nastiness from her fellow officers, her suspension and constant attention from tabloid journalists. These strands often intertwine with her actions in one leading to events in the other or vice versa. It’s done seamlessly and while there may be a touch of serendipity it makes for an exciting read.

As ever with Mr Oswald there is a hint of the otherworldly. It’s incredibly nebulous and mostly there is a rational explanation but still... This is reinforced by the ritualistic nature of the mutilations which adds to the swirl, just because you don’t share the murderer’s beliefs and their reason for killing it doesn’t make the victims any less dead. I never know what to make of it but I enjoy the dubiety of it all.

I like Con Fairchild who wants to do a good job and is frustrated at every turn. She is dogged, determined and a magnet for trouble. It’s great stuff.

Nothing to Hide is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

[Trevor Snape · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Constance Fairchild series. If you have not read the first book in the series, why not? You are missing a treat, buy it now and read it before tackling this one, it will make this book come to life. However, you can read this book as a standalone and you will still really enjoy it and sit on tender hooks waiting for the next one. There are loads of snippets which will remind the reader of the first book and even Oswald's previous series, the Inspector Tony Mclean series. Cats, Madame Rose, Edinburgh to name a few. I wonder if in a future book Inspector Tony Mclean and or Mrs. McCutcheon's cat will make an appearance. Back to this book and Constance or Con as she prefers to be called is still on suspension after the death of her boss in the first book of the series and near her London flat she comes across the body of a young man by the communal rubbish bins, covered in refuse. He is barely alive. Subsequently it is established that his tongue has been cut out and he has been castrated. He is not the first boy to be found in this condition although all the others were dead when they were found. They have been found in various parts of the country so NCA are involved. Constance is at the moment a target for the paparazzi because of the upcoming trial concerning events in the first book of the series. Needless to say Constance is entangled in the investigation of the boys deaths whilst still on suspension. This book is full of twists and turns and knife edges and Constance's character is sometimes her own worst enemy. Don't forget the author is James Oswald so there is bound to be a hint of the supernatural tied up in the story as well. A great read and a good edition to the series.

[Mairead Hearne (swirlandthread.com) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trouble always seems to find her, and even if she has nothing to hide, perhaps she has everything to lose….

Having read and thoroughly enjoyed No Time To Cry by James Oswald, I was delighted to finally get the opportunity to read the second book in this fantastic crime fiction series, Nothing to Hide.

Published by Wildfire in July 2019, Nothing to Hide sees the return of DC Constance Fairchild. James Oswald, ‘one of Scotland’s foremost crime writers,’ would be familiar to many for his bestselling Inspector McLean series of detective mysteries. DC Fairchild is another gripping crime fiction series…but with a female lead.

DC Constance Fairchild (Con) is never far from trouble. With the paparazzi on her back following her involvement in a very high profile case, Con had sought refuge in The Highlands for some time. Now, on returning to her London flat, Con makes a very grim discovery. In the waste disposal area of her apartment complex she encounters a young boy, brutally assaulted and tortured, with his tongue cut out and testicles viciously removed. Still alive, this victim is a possible link to something much bigger, something nefarious that is occurring in locations across the UK. With the hallmarks of ritualistic style attacks, in some cases with hearts removed from savagely tortured victims, the Met are faced with an evil and malevolent opponent, one who dances in the shadows and the darkness.

Con has multiple issues to deal with. The trail of devastation behind her and in front of her is incessant with no sign of letting up. Supposedly off-duty, Con finds herself unwittingly caught up in this new case. With the paparazzi still hounding her, Con can find no peace in her own home. At her place of work, many of her colleagues are keeping their distance and passing snide remarks in her wake. Following on from her previous case, members of the police team are under investigation and Con is the scape-goat in her station, as the now additional workload is allocated out to those still in their jobs.

Con’s family are dysfunctional. Coming from wealth, Con had to walk away from her inheritance in order to follow her dream of working for the Met. With her title of Lady Constance Fairchild always hovering in her background, Con is fodder for the journos.

As this new case gains momentum and more victims are discovered, Con finds herself on a journey to Edinburgh in the hope of unearthing more about the victim found near her flat. She remains officially off-duty and works somewhat outside of her legitimate parameters. While in Edinburgh, Con encounters characters who may be familiar to readers of James Oswald’s McLean series. I love how the two series ‘accidentally’ overlap and how James Oswald subtly weaves these characters into each separate plot-line.

Con is frustrated by the restrictions being placed on her. With family issues very prevalent, she is exhausted and demoralised as all sides of her life, both private and professional, seem to be collapsing around her. But Constance Fairchild is determined, resourceful and fearless. She isn’t afraid to take risks, at times putting her own life in serious threat. She is a fighter who believes in searching for justice at all times. She is indefatigable, completely unwavering in her search for the truth.

Nothing to Hide is a terrific addition to the series. It’s very interesting to follow DC Constance Fairchild’s career and to follow her relationship with her family and colleagues.

Nothing to Hide is a solid page-turner that kept me well captivated with a lead protagonist that entertained and continues to intrigue. The supernatural is a recurring theme in some of James Oswald’s books and in Nothing to Hide there is a strong sense of the bizarre with a spine-tingling plot that will horrify and fascinate at the same time.

A highly enjoyable and engaging read!

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Constance Fairchild is my new favourite heroine. She may come from aristocratic stock, but she's one kick ass woman.
Nothing to Hide sees Con still on suspension, and vilified by her colleagues. The tabloid press have also taken a keen interest in her, so once again Con finds herself hiding out in Scotland. Edinburgh is the destination this time, but it's not long before trouble comes a calling. Well, trouble is her middle name.
I loved the little crossover between this series and that of Inspector McLean. Although we didn't meet Tony himself, Janie Harris and Grumpy Bob put in an appearance. Madame Rose was on hand to provide sanctuary for Con.
As with all of Oswald's books, this was quite dark, and of course there was an element of the supernatural.
A very enjoyable, entertaining read.

[Elspeth Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another cracking read. I love Con's voice, and it was nice to see a few cameos from old faces (characters that will be familiar to fans of Oswald's Inspector McLean series). I need more Cat, though.

Get to it, James. Chop chop.

[Suzy Dominey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good but annoying character "don't do it" and of course they do and nearly die but are saved just in time!!!!!

[E.M. Swift-Hook · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Tense, Present Tense, Police Thriller

DC Con Fairchild is recovering her balance, her health and her career following a high profile case which has left her the focus of media attention and forced her into hiding to escape that. Returning to London from a Highland retreat she finds herself confronted by a mutilated young man, barely alive and almost on her doorstep. Although she's supposed to be suspended from work, work seems not to be willing to suspend itself from her and she is pulled into a new investigation.

What I really liked:
The Main Character. Con is someone it's easy to identify with despite the classic 'poor little rich girl' motif. She is gutsy and vulnerable, has family problems and work problems, self-confidence and self-doubt. A very well rounded, believable and engaging character.
The Setting. Well presented and feeling real. Gritty but avoiding the sense of being utterly bleak which can be the downfall of such books. There are pools of peace and good people as well as bad.
The Story and Pace. The story was multi-faceted which meant there was a lot going on all the time. That kept the pace taut and the plot moving along with enough happening to keep me turning the pages for the majority of the book. The end was, sadly, utterly predictable.

What I struggled with:
The Present Tense. I have no idea what has led to some authors leaping on this wobbly band-wagon. The shifts between past and present tense always jarred and just when I was getting into reading immersion the oddness of a workaround that just wouldn't be needed in past tense writing would flip me out again. It was incredibly frustrating and costs the book a star.
The Tropes. The 'poor little rich girl' thing really grated as it was not well played and sometimes made it hard to keep sympathy going for Con. It felt more like an author device to allow her to have wealthy friends and family offering convenient support rather than anything else. Also, from the moment they appear, it is obvious who the bad guys are and the way the main bad guy was presented he might as well be have been wearing a neon sign around his neck. I kept expecting an out of left-field twist to save it from the over-signposted highway of events to come, but alas not. This meant it lost much of it's 'thrill' factor for me and another star in my estimation.

Overall Thoughts
This is a book in two parts - the build-up which is excellent and the denouement which is predictable. It will appeal to those who like great female characters, present tense writing and police-based crime stories but are not too fussy about twists in the tail.

[Karolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series which features DC Constance Fairchild which is written by James Oswald and I have taken to this series just like the Inspector McLean series, I love it!

In this book, DC Constance Fairchild is still suspended from duty after her last case ended. She is attempting to stay out of the limelight after the high-profile arrest of one of Britain’s wealthiest men in that case but the press have different ideas. When she returns to her flat in London, she finds a young man who is badly mutilated and only just alive, close by. She calls it in, then manages to get involved in the middle of a nationwide investigation through her sticking her nose in and her sort of boss wanting to include her but aware she is suspended! She goes home via the hospital to see the boy she found, to find someone visiting him so when she flees the scene, DC Constance Fairchild follows, down the stairwell, out the exit at the bottom, straight into her boss! He is not very happy with her until she explains. At least they can pick her up on CCTV. Then another day, she stumbles across another victim. Whether her boss likes it or not, DC Constance Fairchild can find trouble or it finds her!

This was an absolutely brilliant read, easy to get into and had the same easy writing style of the Inspector McLean books which you would hope to expect. Plenty of description too, so you felt like you were living the story and there in the moment. Good story line and well thought out, didn’t see the ending coming. For me, it was 5 out of 5 stars, I am looking forward to the next book already!

[Honestmamreader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing To Hide is the second book in the Constance Fairchild series. And, this book picks up were No Time To Cry left. (I'll be honest this is my first foray into the works of James Oswald, but I've since read up about him and his previous works)

Now this book can be read as a standalone. However, given the fact that Constance (or Con as she likes to be called) is still off-duty due to her role in the previous case. There is a lot of references to the first book. It doesn't detract from the story in hand, but for me now I don't see the need to read No Time To Cry as I basically know how it pans out.

I love the character of Con, she is a feisty, no holds barred type of woman. She really doesn't take no crap from anyone. It's so nice to have such a strong female lead character. I liked her blossoming friendship with Karen with a K, it kind of bought out a more personable side to her, same when she's interacting with her neighbour. I think she needs a sidekick to bounce off, maybe her and Karen can team up in future books.

It's fair to say though that in this book Con is really unlucky. She's being hounded by the press, her fridge stinks, she finds a near death body right by where she lives, she gets sent to Edinburgh (not the unlucky part) but when she's there another dead body turns up, which is linked to the one by her place. It just seems that she can't catch a break.

There was plenty of action and drama in this story. I can't wait to see what is next on store for Lady Constance Fairchild (yep she's also from a wealthy family)

[Lel Budge · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in James Oswald’s series featuring DC Constance Fairchild.

Con is suspended, while awaiting the trial of Roger DeVilliers, a paedophile, and the corrupt detective Bailey.

She is being harassed by the media, with paparazzi camped on her doorstep and she is known as the ‘posh’ cop. Returning home after a break in Scotland, she finds the mutilated body of a young man, he’s still breathing…so she is back in the thick of it again.

Poor Con is still the pariah to other cops, so she sent back to Scotland to do a little investigation there, away from the press. DC Karen Eve, is helping and they form a slightly fragile friendship. We also meet the marvellous character, Rose, who I have to admit is one of my favourites…..with her air of mystery and glamour…I’d love to read more about her. ( I have read other of James Oswald’s novels that also feature Madam Rose…).

Meanwhile Con is also dealing with her brothers impending wedding and meets her mother, who is now part of The Church of the coming light and the disturbing Reverend Dr Masters…..

When further bodies turn up, also mutilated, Con finds herself in danger in a claustrophobic drama….

Can they find out the link between the victims, and why they are being so horrifically mutilated?

I really like Con, she’s strong, independent and certainly feisty and dogged in her determination to find the truth. I’ll certainly be looking out for the next in the series.

I would like to thank the Pigeonhole, NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book for free, this is my honest and unbiased review.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

With thanks to the publisher for the copy received via Pigeonhole. Nothing To Hide is a follow up novel that I couldn’t wait to read after loving No Time To Cry. It could be read as a standalone novel but I do recommend you read them in order.

Con has been suspended from her job following the events of book one and is treated with disdain by both her colleagues and the press. Neither of who can accept that she is Lady Constance, even though she has no interest in the title, has little time for her parents and doesn’t get any financial benefit from having the title. I did feel their treatment was a little unfair, considering she was only doing her job.

But she does her best to ignore them and finds allies in Karen Eve, Bain and Diane Shepherd. They do their best to include her in the investigation that concerns the young man she found and others that have died from their injuries.

It takes place in London and Edinburgh and I was very happy to see some crossover characters from the author’s other series. One of them I recognised instantly, the other two I had to check my facts.

Often worrying but there is also humour, the type that I love. Con doesn’t take any prisoners, she refuses to show respect if she doesn’t feel its deserved and she definitely doesn’t suffer fools. Her friendship with Karen Eve is one I want to see develop and I also want to see her family become more settled after the events that happen here. I also want to see how she handles an officer who I expect she will have to work with closely.

I know that there are many who like the Inspector Mclean series, I have only read two from that. Whilst I enjoy it, this is my favourite. Con is a character that I love to read about.

[Nila (digitalcreativepages) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second book in the series, but first of mine, the book featured a braveheart DC Constance Fairchild who was back home just to stumble upon a badly mutilated boy, barely breathing. Soon embroiled in the investigation, her discoveries led to roads unknown and facts anew.

My first book by James Oswald, the suspense soon built up slowly as pages turned. The book was written with great precision with Con as the center stage, who attracted trouble which helped her to solve the difficult crime. The other characters too played their part and were quite beguiling. PC Karen Eve and Madam Rose, especially.

The author linked the crimes dramatically, bringing it close to home, and Con soon had a fight on her hands. I didn't like her much, I hoped she would investigate more zealously. But she managed to get the job done. Breaking free of rules and shackles, it was Con who led the book to a dramatic finish.

Overall, a good read.

[Colin Garrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Following her suspension in her previous case, DC Constance Fairchild wants to stay out of the spotlight, but returning to her London flat she discovers a barely alive young man whose body is horribly mutilated. Though the possibility of a shift to a different department is in the offing for her, Fairchild finds her status as the ‘posh cop’ keeps getting in the way. Then, when another body is discovered in Edinburgh, she begins to see that links to a mysterious religious group might hold the key to the mystery.

This is James Oswald’s second Constance Fairchild novel, and though I hadn’t read the first one, it wasn’t hard to pick up the threads. I enjoyed the writing, the characters and the banter, but for a detective story this one takes a long time for anything very interesting to happen and while the heroine is very likeable, she seems to spend an awful lot of time visiting relatives and going to weddings.

An interesting read that never quite hit the mark.

[Neil Fulwood · Rating 2 out of 5]

‘No Time to Cry’, the first volume in Oswald’s Constance Fairchild series, was tip-top: niftily plotted, pacy, and an antidote to his increasingly bloated Inspector McLean saga. This second volume is a massive let-down, with its 300-odd pages delineating more or less equally into three parts: extended coda to book one, unengaging family melodrama, insipid attempt at crime thriller. I was skim-reading towards the end, just to finish it.

[CriminalRepurcussions · Rating 1 out of 5]

For a crime story, this could be direct from Girls Own Annual, Adventure Stories.
It also seems pitched to younger demographic.
Plenty of 'fuck' , the allpurpose word.
Cover note advertising claims "hallmarks of Val McDermid Ian Rankin" - publishers need to print something on a cover to attract buyers who might believe such a claim.
This book is ridiculous.
Featuring the lead character, 'Poor Me', little Constance, this book consists of overly-done and boring endless repeating self-talk, endless first-person musings repeaing of what went before, her endless thinking, repeating and whining her obsession of being followed by the press - her purpose for living - as if she is more newsworthy CONSTANTLY than any other celebrity ... blah blah boring. She dithers around in her non-work neverneverland, always harking back to the previous book's story - which it isn't necessary to read, there's enough in book 2 to put me off reading book 1. She roams around, life is messy, no food, stinky fridge....always being rescued by someone in every way. , she thinks she's independent but seems needy.
With the Madame Rose character (hovering between the two series, Fairchild and McLean ) and her the overall fantasy occult transgender crystal ballall-knowing magical circusy mystery aura added to the mix of nothing much happening except a lot of wandering around, not much of a plot, lots of padding out with not much happening. Each character seems silly, including each Fairchild, cop, villain, extras superfluous to requirements ... Everyone's a cliche. There's nobody 'normal' to move a police story along. The style of telling this story is all over the place.
My first J.Oswald read was a McLean story, at least it was more tightly written as a police procedural, this was a combo of circus, Indiana Jones crypt cliche and new world religion folks.
I borrowed Nothing To Hide from our library to discover the series before the Covid-19 situation hit and the reason I finished it was that I had nothing else 'new' to read. The characters in this book are too way-out to be entertaining and I tired of it all very quickly, just silly stuff. The escape from the crypt, the mysterious out of place sarcophagus...really? Just ridiculous. Her superpowers of recovery to fight another fight, laughable.
Author, this is your 'work' and it took time to produce. From an avid crime reader's viewpoint, you could use your talents better, depending on who your target demographic is. According to the star-ratings, I'm a minority. Everyone's review is personal preference, to me it was very silly, like a Z-grade movie. And, the typos - where were the proof readers, some words were wrong. Goodbye Fairchild .

[Kim Slaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was able to read this book as part of pigeonhole slave a day. The book starts off well, though I didn’t know it was the second book in a series. Was interested in what happened in that book, but continued anyway. Wish I hadn’t, the book lack interest in places and you were taken to Scotland for no reason. The last chapter brought it all together, however it was very predictable from the start.

[Andy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love James Oswald books but the second book in the Constance Fairchild series has been a great disappointment. Its was very slow to read and the culprit was almost signposted very early in the book.

[Simon Pert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another slice of James Oswald magic, could not put the second installment of Constance Fairchild down and eagerly wait for more.
From start to frenetic finished a joy to read and a shame to finish the book.

Hats off James Oswald...you've done it again

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1920 a mysterious unknown body from the battlefields of the First World War was buried in front of thousands of people in Westminster Abbey. Seen as deeply symbolic of the thousands of lost men from Britain, many families believed there was a chance that the body feted by a king was their loved one who had been listed as Missing in Action. The identity of the man so buried is the subject of this beautifully written novel set in three time frames; 1917 as a soldier, Daniel Dawkins, strives to cope with his past and survive the contradictory tactics of the generals, 1920 as Peter Harding is given an unusual set of orders, and in 2011 Sarah Harding is set on a quest to discover the truth of her grandfather’s story.

The balance between these three time frames is extremely well maintained in this intriguing novel, as the characters try to cope with the challenges they all face. In the first time frame men are faced with the impossible tasks set out for them in battlefields in which many die and all are treated badly. The difficulties that are faced as a country in mourning makes for problems and decisions that must be made. The family mystery which Sarah confronts is a long standing situation, but it becomes more convoluted as the novel progresses. This is a timely novel as anniversaries of some of the events approach and there is an existing significance to the tomb even today. I have found this book to be both profound and moving, and I am so pleased to have had the opportunity to read and review it.

This book is effective as it is not the story of just three characters in isolation seeking to deal with their own crisis, but also looks in much detail at those around them. As Daniel comes back on leave he visits his childhood love Joyce, who he realises is the only person who truly understands him, but cannot truly know what he faces on his return to France. While he has some true friends among his comrades, they do not understand what motivates him. A young officer, Jeremy Latham, has some appreciation of life on the front but needs the support of more experienced men. His parents tussle with the issues of a family at once proud of his bravery, but fearful of his possible fate. Peter knows something of battlefields, but finds his orders difficult, and the implication of his actions troubling. He knows little or nothing of love, and finds his relationship with a girl he encounters difficult. Sarah enlists the help of a young historian to help her, but James Marchant must work through his discoveries of more than an historical nature.

There is a sort of black humour throughout the book, and the events of 2011 are actually quite funny and touching. While the main subject of this book is war and the aftermath, it is not overly traumatic but instead gives a form of hope and a sense of true love. There are many fascinating themes in this book, such as the power of words, the nature of war, the contradictions of military life. The impact of the First World War, though now a hundred years ago, still has an impact on our world today, as subsequent conflicts still bring out questions of loyalty, bravery and the nature of war. I found the sheer humanity of this sophisticated and meaningful book touching and significant, and I found the moral questions of the nature of historical investigation fascinating. I recommend it as a great read and it deserves a lot of attention.

[Stevie Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is something I love about authors who sneak mentions of their other works into books.

Stephen King does it all the time with his Castlerock based stories. When it happens it’s like bumping into old friends you haven’t seen in years.

James Oswald fills this book with easter eggs and references to his hugely successful Inspector McLean Series. Locations and characters that will fill McLean fans with unbridled joy when they pop up. Yet Oswald still manages to do it in a throwaway, blink or you’ll miss it fashion that won’t confuse or deter readers new to this, the Constance Fairchild Series.

I was blown away by No Time To Cry So much so I wondered if Oswald could reach the same heights with the often difficult second in the series. I needn’t have worried, he’s knocked it out of the park again.

Oswald’s USP if you will, is his ability to weave just the right amount of supernatural into his stories in such a way that he leaves it open to the reader to decide if they are spooky goings on, or just easily explained coincidence. It makes his novels a little like a choose your own adventure story. You want to believe that Madame Rose lives in a magic house you can, or if you want to believe Constance doesn’t leave the house for three days because she’s exhausted – you can. It’s so cleverly done, in all of his books. So you kind of get a two for one deal. A police procedural, and a fantasy book rolled into one.

James Oswald also writes complex characters. While you can’t help but root for Constance in her battles with her superiors, her family, the paparazzi and the books villain; I’m not a hundred percent sure she sometimes doesn’t deserve what she gets. Perhaps that’s what makes her such an interesting heroine. The incidental characters in Oswald’s books are never just that. Mrs Feltham, Con’s neighbour – a favourite from the first book with her kindness and curries gets to play a great role in Nothing To Hide and I look forward to the possibility of her playing a bigger part in future books.

There’s a lot going on in Nothing To Hide. Con on the run from The Press, trying to carry out Police work on the sly while being on suspension, possible dare I say it…? Future romantic interest all while tracking down the perpetrator of horrendous ritualistic crimes on young members of a cult. Something Oswald does really well is weave these plot threads all together into an exciting fast paced and above all believable story.

Gruesome at times, something that Oswald has been criticised for in the past, most notably by himself. Nothing To Hide never takes this too far. The criticism is unwarranted in my opinion. The now changed opening to “Natural Causes” the first Mclean novel is the reason I fell in love with his writing. If you can track down an original, unchanged copy I’d recommend it if you aren’t squeamish.

I have to give special mention to Rose Akroyd, the voice actor on the excellent Audible version of both Constance Fairchild books. Her performance is outstanding and she gives life to all of the books characters, especially Con whose voice in my head is now eternally linked to Rose’s.

Left with a tantalising cliffhanger as to why one of Con’s colleagues dislikes her I am left chomping at the bit for the 3rd book in this excellent series. Add to that the prospect of Tony McLean teaming up with Fairchild and I feel like volunteering to help James Oswald on the farm so we get the next book quicker.

[Rich B · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second outing for DC Constance Fairchild follows on fairly swiftly from the events of the first book. Con’s exposure of the terrible crimes of several well-known public figures who left several dead bodies in their wake is front-page news. This leads to her being constantly followed and hounded by the paparazzi though muchs of the book.

Nonetheless, while trying to carry on with normal-ish life, she still manages to find a mutilated near-dead body of a young man as she takes out the rubbish at her flat. (a bit of rubbish convenient plot point, but let’s bin that thought).

As it turns out, this is the latest in a spate of such bodies being found across the country, and she starts to get involved in an investigation into a mysterious religious cult, who it turns out she has a family connection with.

There’s lots to like about the storytelling. This story operates in the same universe as the Inspector Tony McLean books, so when Con goes to Edinburgh, she interacts with several characters from those books including the always fun Madame Rose and the always interesting DC Jane Harrison. These were the most enjoyable parts of the story.

There’s some interesting secondary characters as well including her always cooking neighbour Mrs Feltham from the first book, and two new characters - PC Karen Eve who helps support her in dealing with the paparazzi and a new Detective Superintendent, Diane Shepherd. (both of whom we assume might appear in future books).

The female characters come across much better written and empathetic here. Most of the male characters seem one-dimensional, and generally grumpy and / or dumb. There’s a potential love interest with an old friend of her brother’s, but that storyline doesn’t develop very far.

What holds it back overall though, is that Con is on the outside of the main investigation for most of this book. And she repeatedly gets treated badly by most of her fellow cops. However, given she’s the hero (heroine?) of the story, that also puts you as the reader on the outside of the investigation, and feeling like you’re being treated badly.

It feels like the investigation is happening elsewhere. You feel more like a spectator than being really involved at times. And being subjected to repeated insults, abuse and misogyny may be realistic (or not, don’t know), but it’s not that enjoyable to read when it’s so constant. There’s not a lot of relief in terms of humour or interaction with more sympathetic or empathetic characters.

That aside, it moves along at a decent pace mostly. When it does eventually all come together, it was a little predictable in how it played out, but not so much to be annoying. Decent, but missing a bit of a wow factor. In fact, that probably sums up the book overall, as enjoyed it, but didn’t love it.