The Listeners

by Anthony Quinn

A new crime series set in the brooding landscape of the Scottish borders from the author of the Celcius Daly series.

Not long out of the fast-track training course at Edinburgh's police college, Detective Sergeant Carla Herron is about to be tested to breaking point.

She's been called to Deepwell psychiatric hospital in the Scottish borders to interview a patient who has confessed to the murder of one of the hospital's psychotherapists. The confession is vividly detailed, but for a man locked in a secure ward and under 24-hour surveillance, it is also utterly impossible.

So why can't the supposedly murdered psychotherapist be contacted? Why are the hospital staff so secretive, so difficult to work with? Why have other Deepwell patients have made disturbingly similar confessions over the past year? Against the advice of her superiors, Carla delves deeper into the hospital's past and is plunged into a labyrinth of jealousies, lies and hallucinations.

Struggling to separate fact from fantasy, Carla embarks on a chilling trail through the bleak uplands and dark forests of the Scottish borders, every step taking her closer to a final – deadly – reckoning.

'Superbly original' SUNDAY EXPRESS.

'Carefully wrought, often lyrical prose, always rich with foreboding' BOOKLIST.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Police

309 pages, Hardcover

First published December 6, 2018

About the author

Anthony Quinn (b. 1971) is an Irish author and journalist. Born in Northern Ireland’s County Tyrone, Quinn majored in English at Queen’s University, Belfast. After college, he worked a number of jobs—social worker, organic gardener, yoga teacher—before finding work as a journalist.
His first novel DISAPPEARED was published by Otto Penzler's Mysterious Press in 2012, and was shortlisted for a Strand Literary Award, as judged by book critics from the LA Times, the Washington Post, the San Francisco Chronicle, CNN and the Guardian. It was also selected by Kirkus Reviews as one of the top ten thrillers of 2012.
BORDER ANGELS, the sequel, also features Inspector Celcius Daly and was published by Mysterious Press in 2013.
He has written short stories for years, winning critical acclaim and, twice, a place on the short list for the Hennessy Literary Awards for New Irish Writing. He also placed as runner-up in a Sunday Times food writing competition. He is represented by Paul Feldstein of the Feldstein Agency.

Reviews

[Paromjit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a marvellous new crime series by Anthony J Quinn set in Scotland in the brooding and atmospheric Borders with its forests and lochs. Detective Sergeant Carla Herron is an inexperienced fast tracked police officer with a lot to prove, based in Peebles. Carla is married to David, and has two young children, 3 year old Alice and baby Ben, with David being a stay at home dad. She changed career from teaching to the police after the birth of Alice. Carla is tasked with interviewing and writing a report on a mental health patient at Deepwell Psychiatric Hospital, Alistair McCrea, who has made a detailed confession to the murder of psychotherapist, Dr Jane Pochard. McCrea is locked in the secure Ward G, with round the clock surveillance, it is impossible for him to have committed the horrific deed he claims to have committed. Dr Pochard is missing, and Carla, plagued with professional and domestic insecurities, finds herself in a dark morass of an unsettling and disturbing investigation, partnered with the more experienced, taciturn and silent Detective Harry Morton.

Deepwell Hospital projects a silence, determined to keep its secrets in the face of murder, where the professional psychiatrists appear to be more unreliable and greater fantasists than its patients. In Ward G much work has been done in bringing out in the open the suppressed memories of its patients. Carla uncovers a history of patients making confessions of murder in Deepwell. There have been complaints of malpractice and there is an organised cult like group, The Holistic Foundation of Psychotherapists, with the power to ruin the careers of mental health practitioners that disagree with or question the leading lights of the organisation. Focusing on a released patient as the prime suspect, Carla finds herself on her first big case where her career conscious boss is determined to interfere and derail the investigation. Morton is an enigma that leaves her wondering if she can trust him as he remains reluctant to discuss the developments and direction of a severely traumatic case that bring great danger to both of them.

Quinn immerses the reader in a location that positively drips with the dark and creepy atmosphere of the forests and a psychiatric institution that exudes a forbidding gothic presence harbouring untold dark deeds and malign influences that Carla and Morton are hard pushed to discover. Carla's home life is threatened as she prioritises her policing duties, putting undue pressure on her own mental health. Quinn depicts an authentic picture of the difficulties of juggling family and work. I liked the characters of both Carla and her more offbeat and eccentric partner, Harry Morton, with the two of them swamped by a host of unreliable suspects, testimonies and memory. I think this novel is a brilliant and intriguing beginning in what promises to be wonderful new series. Highly recommended! Many thanks to Head of Zeus for an ARC.

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Listeners, the first novel in the new DS Carla Herron series set in the picturesque town of Peebles, not a million miles away from where I actually live in the Scottish Borders, is a great read. It turned out to be one of the most original, fascinating and wholly absorbing psychological thrillers/mysteries of 2018, and what a way to cap off an already superb reading year! What I found most appealing about this particular novel was that it intertwines the crime of murder with the state of a perpetrators mind and the reasons why an individual would admit to bumping someone off when in fact they had absolutely nothing to do with it. It's also rather dark and disturbing as it illustrates that doctors, by way of their privileged position, have the ability to play God with their patient's lives, and this is even more likely if the patient is vulnerable.

The writing and pace are immaculate, and the characters well-drawn and so, so intriguing. I have to admit, I wasn't Carla's biggest advocate at the beginning, but as time went on and the novel progressed I began to appreciate her hard work, her tenacity and her willingness to learn from more experienced investigators. Some of the many themes explored throughout this novel are - manipulation, secrets, lies, mental health, God complex, deceitful and duplicitous behaviour and untrustworthy characters who engulf every page. The author is adept at throwing the reader off the scent through use of misdirection and plenty of red herrings. The dense pine forests and vast lochs provide the backdrop to this gothic feeling novel that has a distinctly chilling vibe to it.

Of course, it's only natural for patients living in psychiatric facilities to be blamed over and above the staff given that most people think of doctors as trustworthy individuals, but believe me, they can be just as devious as anyone else. Having studied and been interested in psychology for many years I was aware of exactly how repressed memories work, but I have never come across a fiction book that deals with psychology/psychiatry in such an in-depth manner. Fact and fiction merging in a truly spectacular and engrossing fashion puts this in my top five books of the year. This is an absolute must-read for those who enjoy intelligent crime fiction, a breathtakingly beautiful setting and a rich, intricate plot. All of the ingredients combine to create an edge-of-your-seat thriller. I don't often agree with The Daily Mail newspaper, but on this occasion, they were spot on when they named Quinn as a 'star in the making'. A thought-provoking read with a satisfying denouement.

A masterful novel if ever there was one, and worthy of all the stars! I literally cannot wait for the next book, so please hurry Mr Quinn!

Many thanks to Head of Zeus for an ARC.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the start of a new series, set on the Scottish borders, and featuring Detective Sergeant Carla Herron. Carla lives in Peebles with reluctant house-husband David, three year old Alice and baby, Ben. Her career in the police force started late and she has found a new lease of life with her work; although David is not quite as enthralled with her desire to make her mark.

Carla’s chance to be involved with a big case, comes when she is asked to interview Alistair McCrea. A patient at Deepwell Psychiatric Hospital, McCrea has confessed to the murder of Dr Pochard, a psychotherapist. The problem is that, having been locked in a secure ward, it seems impossible that he could have committed a crime. Still, keen to investigate, and unnerved by the atmosphere at Deepwell, Carla discovers that Dr Pochard does not seem to be at home and it is impossible to contact her…

This is an unusual, literary mystery, with a good setting. I enjoyed the loch and the isolated pine forests, which gave a real sense of place. The hospital, Deepwell, was also quite creepy, with an unnerving shroud of silence over events and the influential group of Scottish Holistic Foundation of Psychotherapists. At the novels heart is Cara herself, who I found it hard to warm to, though. Overall, an interesting mystery, but I do not feel I will be reading on in the series. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.

Rated 3.5

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Heads of Zeus for an advance copy of The Listeners, the first novel in a new series set in the Scottish Borders town of Peebles to feature DS Carla Herron.

When Alistair McCrea, a patient at Deepwell Psychiatric Hospital, confesses to the murder of one of the psychotherapists at the hospital, Dr Jane Pochard, it seems impossible as he lives in a locked ward, but Dr Pochard is missing. Newly qualified DS Carla Herron is sent to investigate McCrea’s claims and while she is unsure about what’s fact and what’s fantasy she is certain there is something very wrong at Deepwell.

I was really looking forward to reading The Listeners as it has a very unusual premise and sounds fascinating. Unfortunately the reality did not match up to the promise and I struggled to get through it. To be fair it is far too intellectual for me as I don’t have the slightest interest in academic psychotherapy and the discussions passed me by. What I took from it was the stereotype of highly manipulative doctors playing God with their patients’ wellbeing to advance their theories and careers and nobody comes out of it well. It is all rather nasty. I also struggled with all the fact v fantasy stuff as Carla tries to investigate. It was all too much for my brain to follow. At its heart, however, if you wade through the extraneous detail, there is a clever crime novel which keeps the reader guessing from start to finish.

I like Carla Herron who changed career from teacher to detective after the birth of her first child - I think there is more to come on that decision. She struggles to balance her home and work lives but in a neat twist her husband is the stay at home parent and she is the one with the variable hours. She is also lacking confidence in her performance at work but grows stronger as the novel progresses. She is a very down to earth, human protagonist.

[Jennifer Nolan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I only liked this book. I skimmed over the bits about Carla's home life as I felt they didn't really add to the story. I can't see myself reading any more of his books.

[Mary Crawford · Rating 3 out of 5]

31/2 This new series is based in the Scottish Borders with a female detective seeking to find the answer to a mentally ill patient claiming to have committed a murder. As a resident of a psychiatric hospital it is impossible that his claims have any foundation. Carla Herron attempts to balance a hectic home with proving to her colleagues that she is a competent team member. The atmospheric descriptions of the landscape are wonderful. I look forward to reading the next in the series.

[Greville Waterman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The words "haunting" and "creepy" have already been used in other reviews to describe this book and it is hard to better them. It was not always the most comfortable read given its subject matter but the writing was of a high calibre and the plot original and fascinating.

Well worth the perseverance necessary at some points to finish it.

Recommended.

[Elke · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a great premise for a suspenseful psychological thriller, but unfortunately the book did not measure up to my expectations. I caught my mind wandering off repeatedly., while the action was crawling along with the handbrake on, and though there did happen a couple of scary things, they drowned in the repetitiveness of dialogues, making it hard to stay focused.

The characters did not really interest me, especially the lead character, detective Carla Herron, remained strangely flat. Her struggle between the time-consuming police work and being a good mother seemed affected and did not convince me. On the other hand, her partner Morton, who stayed silent most of the time and was secretive about his personal life, showed great depth and was the only one who really caught my interest.

Based on a fascinating idea with great potential, its realization and especially the characters sadly failed to deliver. However, I feel that this is a very personal and subjective impression which may not agree with other readers' perception of the book.

(thanks to netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of the book, all opinions are my own)

[David Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely a page turner and very well written this has potential for a series with its protagonist, young detective Carla Herron who works in the Scottish border area around Peebles.
I just found it a bit uncomfortable; weird psychoanalytical secure hospital with distinctly secretive and odd staff belonging to a bonkers professional cult, one of whom’s head turns up separated from the body! Weird police team including an extremely taciturn and unhelpful colleague for Carla and a couple of time-serving detectives that wouldn’t have been out of place in “Life on Mars” under Gene Hunt. Weird family dynamics too for poor Carla who has jacked in teaching to pursue her dream with two miserable-unrewarding-snotty children and a wet, moping acopian house husband.
Nevertheless, Carla’s persistence pays off and the startling trouble she gets into near the end has the most unlikely saviour imaginable.

[Pgchuis · Rating 1 out of 5]

Quitting at 24% (and I have been skimming). Can't keep going with this. The writing is odd, the characterization is flat and weird, and it's just boring and creepy at the same time.

[Tayla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great premise for a psychological thriller but I didn’t enjoy the writing and found myself skimming most of it as I wasn’t interested.

[Kath · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new author to me but on the back of this book, I have added his previous series to my already bulging TBR list.
It's set in the Scotland borders and this location adds to the claustrophobic, haunting atmosphere that the book oozes throughout. We follow newbie to the team DS Carla Herron as she is sent to Deepwell psychiatric hospital where one of the patients has confessed to a murder that he could not possibly have committed. A murder that hasn't even yet been discovered. Things get weirder when a body is found and the details match the confession. Herron wants in on the investigation and is reluctantly added to the team. But her attempts to get to the bottom of things are hard to say the least with the rest of the staff at the hospital closing ranks. But what are they really protecting? And how can someone under lock and key, under 24 hour surveillance, know so much about something they confessed to but could not possible have done?
It took me a while to warm to Carla, she has a stay at home husband who looks after their two children. She switched careers late in life, moving from being a teacher to the police force and is determined to make it in her new profession. She's a bit eager and tenacious but has potential. She is teamed up with Morton who says little compared with her constant chattiness. But she learns a lot from him along the way and I did warm to her eventually.
The story, the case that they were investigating was well crafted and executed. It contained all the things you'd expect from a book of this genre; secrets, lies, unreliable testimonies, duplicitous behaviour, the whole shebang. We also have blockers and red-herrings thrown into the mix along the way which kept me guessing. There's definitely more to the goings on in the hospital than what you see on the surface, especially with regard to the treatments meted out.
But, when all was said and done, after the final showdown, the whole thing made perfect sense and left me feeling satisfied. It didn't quite blow me out of the water as there were things that I guessed ahead of their reveals, but there was enough left for me to wonder about for the majority of the book to keep my interest. Looking forward to reading more from this author both his back catalogue and the next in what looks to be a promising new series here.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

[Debra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Carla Herron gets called out to a secure mental health facility when a patient confesses to a series of murders. Carla enters a world of secrets with no one revealing their true thoughts – not even her police team. On the home front Carla is struggling to hold together home and work whilst focusing on a police investigation.

This is a rather convoluted story with a mish mash of a secret therapists society and intricate lies and red herrings. To be honest it all got a bit much for me. I had worked out the main protagonist from quite early on so it got quite tedious trying to plough through endless paragraphs of excessive description and psychological detail.

Carla Herron did not come over well as a main character. She is supposed to be a strong woman fighting for recognition in a very male dominated & sexist police station. However, her personality was quite weak & there were several occasions where she didn’t really do herself any favours. Her home life was unstable with a very unsupportive husband who obviously wanted her back in the home & kitchen. In many ways it read like a book from the 1970s/80s.

This book was simply not well structured. The meandering in the middle really got me bogged down and I wasn’t sure I would finish it – I did.

As a whole this book didn’t work for me. The prose was lengthy and basic with long repetitive descriptions of the countryside which could have been reduced with the use of a richer vocabulary. The characters needed more substance and personality. I won’t be seeking out any further books by this author.

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.

[Kerrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read on a number of levels. Carla Herron is not only new to the job, she is a young mother with 2 young children and a husband working from home, and he is not coping.

Her colleague D. I. Morton is a strange fish, silent most of the time, consequently difficult to work with, and with secrets of his own. Carla feels she is not being told the whole story, and then Morton tells her she is doing a good job.

Carla interviews a man at Deepwell Psychiatric Hospital who claims he has murdered several people, and the last psychotherapist he talked to has gone missing. Carla can see that McCrea is convinced he has committed several murders. But how could he? He hasn't left the hospital.

This novel has a very Gothic feel to it and there are many very dark passages, Deepwell is engaged in some peculiar perhaps innovative practices to do with memory, and Carla has difficulty in determining exactly what those practices involve, and indeed who is using them. Staff at the hospital keep telling her to consult others, that they are not at liberty to fully answer her questions.

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven’t read Mr Quinn’s other series but now I think I must- I polished off The Listeners in two mad reading sittings- a beautifully described immersive setting and a great character to follow along with in Carla, who struggles with a home life balance in a realistic way.
Thrown into her first major case, a strange and difficult one, as unlikely confessions to murder start becoming reality. Carla uses a mix of practicality and instinct to guide her – often hindered rather than helped by her enigmatic and almost silent partner. It is a highly engaging plot with a haunting sense to the writing that is often genuinely creepy.
Pacy and clever, the story is a manipulative one involving manipulative people, with themes of mental health and hidden secrets. It has unexpected moments and thought provoking ones and a truly excellent finale with a classically done reveal.
Thoroughly enjoyed it. Very glad this is the start to a new series. I shall be following.
Recommended.

[Susanne (Pages of Crime) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed by this one, the premise sounded so promising however it was disjointed, dreamlike at times and at other times was obviously trying way too hard to be "mysterious". The characters came off as annoying particularly in the segments regarding Carla's home life, the complaining stay-at-home dad was so grating. The resolution of the crimes came off as contrived (and somewhat predictable) and the ending left me with a frown on my face!

[Tom Lindsay · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wholly unbelievable and very boring. One cannot just 'dash' from Peebles to Loch Lomond, as the principal does - it is a long way, with Glasgow intervening. The denouement beggars belief and the characters have no substance or discernible qualities. The principal is thoroughly confused and confusing and if any police force operates in the manner described, I fear for the safety of Scots people.

[Megan Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detective Sergeant Carla Herron is not long out of training course and is about to be tested to breaking point. She has been called to Deepwell psychiatric hospital in the Scottish borders to interview a patient who has confessed to the murder of one of the hospital's psychotherapists. The confession is vividly detailed but for a man locked in a secure ward, it is also impossible. There are other, disturbing secrets swirling around the hospital, just what is the truth at Deepwell hospital? Carla delves deeper into the hospital's past and is plunged into a dark world. 
Wow, what a read! Seriously, 'The Listeners' combines two great subjects of mine; crime and psychology, I was obsessed with this from the beginning and loved seeing how everything came together to make for incredibly thrilling, intense reading. 
Immediately, Quinn throws us into a dangerous situation with the opening chapter, then we have our introduction to the detective that is Carla Herron and then the fun really begins as we discover Deepwell and the people and secrets it holds. The plot is very dark in places so be warned but it is extremely interesting. This is so much more than just a crime read as we have the fascinating layer of psychotherapy throughout, informative to begin with and then the dark undertones come into play as we question what the patients are really being subjected to. 
I cannot stress enough how outstanding this plot is, I was completely engrossed and adored every second of action. The characters are an incredibly bunch as well, not always likeable but very realistic and more importantly interesting, I enjoyed getting to know them, discovering their flaws and learning how they slot into Quinn's intricate plot. Carla is our main character and I came to love to hate her, she is very likeable, at times, but she is very frustrating at others and I wanted to bang her head against the wall with some of the decisions she made. This is where my realistic, flawed point comes in, yes I was frustrated with her but it fitted the plot and most importantly it fitted her. 
'The Listeners' is an incredibly crime read, I was addicted to reading this and adored the mix of intense plot with the bleak atmosphere of the Scottish landscape, coupled with the danger of the hospital and you have the perfect mix for a dangerous, bleak crime read. I know it is early in 2019 but this could be a contender for favourite read. 

[Martha Brindley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A new series, set in the Borders of Scotland and featuring DS Carla Herron.. Carla is tasked with interviewing a psychiatric patient in Deepwell Hospital, who has confessed to murdering a psychotherapist. I loved the character of Carla, juggling a career with family life and the beautiful Scottish setting. I struggled with the fact versus fantasy aspect of the story but overall, this was a very cleverly written crime novel which will appeal to readers of the genre and it kept me guessing throughout. Thanks to Net Galley for my copy.

[Louise Munden · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were a few things that made this novel feel a bit amateur - the MIL turning up out of the blue and saving the day, the failure to investigate leads such as Derek who was established as an important character at the beginning, and the so called spooky woods that didn’t feel sinister at all (not to me anyway). Having said that, the premise that the murders were driven by psychotherapists and the police for their own benefits was interesting, and Quinn’s writing voice kept me interested right until the end.

[Catsalive · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*
A little slow in places, mainly where we're delving into Carla's home-life: she may have a case to answer to husband David, just wandering in & out as she feels like it. Very atmospheric, though: the brooding darkness of the dense conifers around the loch is chilling, & the incipient threat in Deepwell's halls. I enjoyed the twist in the tale very much. I can't say I liked Carla Herron much but I would like to see more of Harry Morton, he's an astute & intriguing character. I love the name of the town in Scotland: I could live in Peebles.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in a new crime series featuring Detective Sergeant Carla Herron and is set in the beautiful Scottish borders.
I thought the story moved at a good pace and the characters were well rounded as they were introduced to the reader. Each scene was well described and the reader could almost smell the pine trees and forest.
This story was well crafted and well executed and I look forward to the next book in this series.

[Purple Bookish Frog (Bonnie) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book on the whole. Could have done without the silliness of the home life drama as it didn’t feel necessary for the overall plot and was frustrating for me read. However I loved the main character’s drive to solve the investigation with her partner. Not really surprised about the ending although there were a few little red herrings to keep me wondering throughout the story.

Looking forward to reading more of Anthony Quinn’a works.

[Keri Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the author did a very good job creating the dark and mysterious atmosphere needed for this type of book. The plot was well done and I do like how everything came together at the end. I do have to say I thought the mother in law involvement was slightly unbelievable. Overall, I enjoyed it and gave it a 3.5 star. I would be interested in reading more of these as it is quite clear the author is writing more about these characters.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I chose this from my book club's trolley for our theme of crime novels set in Scotland.

After reading a couple of chapters, I felt it didn't really resonate with me, but I try to avoid DNFing a book. As I read on, I began to feel more interested, but I was more interested in analysing the police detective as a character, than the crime itself.

I didn't dislike it, but I wouldn't read it again.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only read to the end of this book because it's quite short and I was on a train. The plot is totally unbelievable, the geography is crazy (a quick dash from Peebles to Loch Lonond? I don't think so! - and different police divisions too, no doubt), the characters are cardboard and the writing is flat and repetitive. Not a series to be pursued.

[Nita Ogueri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good mystery read that had me hooked from the start!!!! I had no idea who could be behind the murders and when I found out who was, I WAS LIKE WHATTTTT? I didn’t see it coming at all!

I gave it 4 stars because Carla was so much focused on her work than trying to fix her family that was on the edge of falling apart.

[Bernice · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. Got to page 83, and then abandoned this book. It had the making of a good story but the pace of the book was all wrong: where the author could have been building tension, it lapsed into pages of description of the landscape and just didn't hold my interest.

[Anne Tanner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite extraordinary, drew me in from difficult start. Managed to paint a dark and forbidding atmosphere, and one of great suspicion. Probably wouldn’t beep universally appealing. Give it a try, but it made me persevere, as I don’t like giving up on a book. The effort was probably worth it.

[Ted P · Rating 3 out of 5]

Early on I thought it may have to be a DNF due to the at home relationship problems between the main character and her husband. But hang in there or speed read thru it. Everything else was well done.