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Sergeant Don Colyear #1
Out in the Cold
INTUITION IS EVERYTHING IN THE POLICE FORCE, SOMETHING THAT SERGEANT DON COLYEAR KNOWS BETTER THAN MOST.
When a superior officer's decision not to respond to a routine disturbance has fatal consequences, Colyear finds himself sent away from Glasgow to work in a remote Highlands town.
Despite not wanting to be there, a feeling shared by his commander, Colyear soon settles into life investigating petty crimes. But it isn't long before he discovers something sinister about the town. A series of teenage disappearances seem to have been ignored by the authorities, and when a groundsman from the local country estate is gruesomely murdered, Colyear suspects that long-held secrets could be coming to the surface. As the town's dark secrets are revealed, Colyear must trust his instincts to stay alive.
When a superior officer's decision not to respond to a routine disturbance has fatal consequences, Colyear finds himself sent away from Glasgow to work in a remote Highlands town.
Despite not wanting to be there, a feeling shared by his commander, Colyear soon settles into life investigating petty crimes. But it isn't long before he discovers something sinister about the town. A series of teenage disappearances seem to have been ignored by the authorities, and when a groundsman from the local country estate is gruesomely murdered, Colyear suspects that long-held secrets could be coming to the surface. As the town's dark secrets are revealed, Colyear must trust his instincts to stay alive.
- GenresCrimeProcedural
445 pages, Paperback
First published November 19, 2020
11 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
October 27, 2020
2-3 stars rounded up.
Sergeant Don Colyear is relocated to Stratharder, north of Oban, following problems in Glasgow. Alongside Constable Rowan Forbes, he investigates a variety of crimes from the minor to the death of a worker on a local estate which appears to be occult based as well as the disappearance of young girls.
There are things I like about this book, Colyear is an interesting and intuitive character and I like the relationship with Rowan who is very likeable. There are some lively exchanges that make you smile and are quite witty. The authors experience as a police officer gives authenticity to the varied life of crime that officers investigate.
However, the busy plot goes backwards and forwards from the past to the present and it’s confusing and disjointed and it’s hard to make sense of some of it. There are some sections that while they can be classed as light relief from the harder hitting parts of the plot, they also feel like page fillers as nothing substantial happens.
Overall, I think this could be a good series with more clarity in the way the plots are constructed. The author has created two good characters that I like and I would like to read about them in the future.
With thanks to NetGalley and Allison and Busby for the arc for an honest review.
Sergeant Don Colyear is relocated to Stratharder, north of Oban, following problems in Glasgow. Alongside Constable Rowan Forbes, he investigates a variety of crimes from the minor to the death of a worker on a local estate which appears to be occult based as well as the disappearance of young girls.
There are things I like about this book, Colyear is an interesting and intuitive character and I like the relationship with Rowan who is very likeable. There are some lively exchanges that make you smile and are quite witty. The authors experience as a police officer gives authenticity to the varied life of crime that officers investigate.
However, the busy plot goes backwards and forwards from the past to the present and it’s confusing and disjointed and it’s hard to make sense of some of it. There are some sections that while they can be classed as light relief from the harder hitting parts of the plot, they also feel like page fillers as nothing substantial happens.
Overall, I think this could be a good series with more clarity in the way the plots are constructed. The author has created two good characters that I like and I would like to read about them in the future.
With thanks to NetGalley and Allison and Busby for the arc for an honest review.
September 25, 2023
audiobook. No mind blowing originality here but enjoyable enough police procedural due to the spirited main character Sergeant Don Colyear who has an intriguing backstory and the witty relationship he has with appealing sidekick Constable Rowan Forbes. Thankfully there is plenty of humour in the book.
November 20, 2020
After an incident makes it impossible to stay in Glasgow, Sergeant Don Colyear is sent to work in the remote Highland town. His new Inspector wants him gone and the locals wonder why he's even there. But Don makes a go of things, striking up a good working relationship with rookie officer, Rowan Forbes.
This is a bit of a slow burner. We are quite a bit into the book before the main plotline starts, up to then, it's mostly character building. Don and Rowan form a great bond. There's also some flashbacks which are a bit confusing. The scenery is descriptivly written. The story is told from Don's point of view. If there is to be more boo,s written about Don and his partner Rown, I would read them.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #AlisonAndBusby and the author #StuartJohnstone for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a bit of a slow burner. We are quite a bit into the book before the main plotline starts, up to then, it's mostly character building. Don and Rowan form a great bond. There's also some flashbacks which are a bit confusing. The scenery is descriptivly written. The story is told from Don's point of view. If there is to be more boo,s written about Don and his partner Rown, I would read them.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #AlisonAndBusby and the author #StuartJohnstone for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 4, 2021
For Don Colyear the terms 'gut feeling' and 'gut instinct' take a very literal form as in whenever he is hit with one, it results in acute stomach cramps. This unique intuitive sense of his has helped him out in the past as well as got him in trouble. One such scenario has resulted in him being 'transferred' to a small Highland town of Stratharder as a Sergeant. It is a small town with a small community where everyone knows everyone else and seems to have a next to nil crime rate. But a chance hint about a missing young girl followed by a gruesome occult related murder of a middle aged man slowly unravels the dark secrets and danger that this town holds.
This actually turned out to be an interesting police procedural. I wasn't so sure about it initially but I am glad I continued with it. The book is written in the past and present format and it was initially a bit confusing figuring out which bit was what but not for long. I liked Don Colyear--he is smart, with a sense of humour and his natural intuitive sense makes him see and figure things out which no one else does in a similar circumstance. Constable Rowan Forbes, the young policewoman whom he takes under his wings at Stratharder is a good match for him--she is intelligent, has spunk and is quick to pick directions and things from him.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Allison and Busby and the author Stuart Johnstone for the e-Arc of the book.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨💫
This actually turned out to be an interesting police procedural. I wasn't so sure about it initially but I am glad I continued with it. The book is written in the past and present format and it was initially a bit confusing figuring out which bit was what but not for long. I liked Don Colyear--he is smart, with a sense of humour and his natural intuitive sense makes him see and figure things out which no one else does in a similar circumstance. Constable Rowan Forbes, the young policewoman whom he takes under his wings at Stratharder is a good match for him--she is intelligent, has spunk and is quick to pick directions and things from him.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Allison and Busby and the author Stuart Johnstone for the e-Arc of the book.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨💫
December 20, 2020
I have been so incredibly lucky as of late in my crime novels, but Out in the Cold surpassed all my expectations. It has an original plot, intriguing main characters and a writing style that is so sharp that it threatens to slit your throat. If I thought that it couldn’t get better than that opening chapter, I’d be sorely wrong. Have you ever found yourself in an untenable situation at work? Well Detective Sargent Colyear has a master’s in it. A situation that wasn’t his doing but takes the rap for it, nonetheless.
Out in the Cold (although I’m not a huge fan of comparisons) could have easily been an episode of Taggart (showing my age there, aren’t i?) they both take an almost harmless situation and show just how splitting it wide open will release the wretchedness of human nature. However, I do believe that Stuart Johnstone had the edge and his originality shone through. I enjoyed every aspect of this story, from characters that pack a serious punch to genuine moments between colleagues that show a deeper understanding within the police force.
Just to sum it up Out in the Cold spirals like an avalanche. The snow gains traction and if you don’t have your wits about you – you also will end up buried.
Out in the Cold is the first instalment in the Sergeant Don Colyear series. It is set in the fictious town of Stratharder near Oban. Thirty-three-year-old Don is promoted and sent to Stratharder after his position in Glasgow became untenable after an incident during a night shift. The crime rate at first glance seems to be relatively low and Don worries just what exactly he is going to do with his time there. As time clocks on he discovers that things are certainly not as they seem in the small town.
Straight away Don is teamed up with Constable Rowan Forbes and the bantering relationship between the two was fun to get lost in. They investigate a spate of vandalism reports and teenage girls mysteriously going missing. Don’s gut instinct has rarely let him down so just why are residents of this sleepy town refusing to give him insight…just what is it that is keeping them quiet? The author has an exquisite skill in dissecting feelings and emotions of being a blow in in a quiet town, as a police officer, as a young professional guy and as a person sticking his nose where a lot of residents don’t want it.
That exciting anticipation of moving to the Scottish Highlands soon becomes a world of grey, the underbelly as rotten as in any city.
I loved Don’s character; genuine, resilient, and still believes in the good in people even after everything he has been through. He’s not naive and with his aspirations comes some hard truths. He’s not scared of putting in the grunt work. Safe to say I will be waiting with bated breath for the next in the series, this may just become my favourite crime series. The author has created pure escapism with side dish of twistedness that makes sure you will come back for more.
Out in the Cold (although I’m not a huge fan of comparisons) could have easily been an episode of Taggart (showing my age there, aren’t i?) they both take an almost harmless situation and show just how splitting it wide open will release the wretchedness of human nature. However, I do believe that Stuart Johnstone had the edge and his originality shone through. I enjoyed every aspect of this story, from characters that pack a serious punch to genuine moments between colleagues that show a deeper understanding within the police force.
Just to sum it up Out in the Cold spirals like an avalanche. The snow gains traction and if you don’t have your wits about you – you also will end up buried.
Out in the Cold is the first instalment in the Sergeant Don Colyear series. It is set in the fictious town of Stratharder near Oban. Thirty-three-year-old Don is promoted and sent to Stratharder after his position in Glasgow became untenable after an incident during a night shift. The crime rate at first glance seems to be relatively low and Don worries just what exactly he is going to do with his time there. As time clocks on he discovers that things are certainly not as they seem in the small town.
Straight away Don is teamed up with Constable Rowan Forbes and the bantering relationship between the two was fun to get lost in. They investigate a spate of vandalism reports and teenage girls mysteriously going missing. Don’s gut instinct has rarely let him down so just why are residents of this sleepy town refusing to give him insight…just what is it that is keeping them quiet? The author has an exquisite skill in dissecting feelings and emotions of being a blow in in a quiet town, as a police officer, as a young professional guy and as a person sticking his nose where a lot of residents don’t want it.
That exciting anticipation of moving to the Scottish Highlands soon becomes a world of grey, the underbelly as rotten as in any city.
I loved Don’s character; genuine, resilient, and still believes in the good in people even after everything he has been through. He’s not naive and with his aspirations comes some hard truths. He’s not scared of putting in the grunt work. Safe to say I will be waiting with bated breath for the next in the series, this may just become my favourite crime series. The author has created pure escapism with side dish of twistedness that makes sure you will come back for more.
July 15, 2021
When a superior officer’s decision not to respond to a routine disturbance has fatal consequences, Colyear finds himself sent away from Glasgow to work in a remote Highlands town.
Settling into his new town, he's been noticing that several teenagers have disappeared .. and the authorities don't seem to know anything about it .. or they just don't care.
When a groundsman from the local sporting estate is gruesomely murdered, Colyear suspects that long-held secrets could be coming to the surface.
Pretty much investigating on his own, he finds more questions than answers. The one thing he does know ... he's being targeted. Someone will do anything ... anything at all .. to keep the town's secrets buried.
Although he has written other things, this is his first crime thriller. He has a history of working as a police officer just outside Glasgow for a period of 10 years. This book was inspired by a disturbing incident from his time in the police. As such, I expected a great deal of credibility ... I was not disappointed.
The plot is intriguing, but the suspense moved very slowly. I liked the characters ... Colyear and his new rookie in particular. I loved the background ... visiting Scotland has been on my bucket list for years. I was expecting more .. but overall, it was a good read. I look forward to the next in the series, INTO THE DARK.
Many thanks to the author / Allison & Busby / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Settling into his new town, he's been noticing that several teenagers have disappeared .. and the authorities don't seem to know anything about it .. or they just don't care.
When a groundsman from the local sporting estate is gruesomely murdered, Colyear suspects that long-held secrets could be coming to the surface.
Pretty much investigating on his own, he finds more questions than answers. The one thing he does know ... he's being targeted. Someone will do anything ... anything at all .. to keep the town's secrets buried.
Although he has written other things, this is his first crime thriller. He has a history of working as a police officer just outside Glasgow for a period of 10 years. This book was inspired by a disturbing incident from his time in the police. As such, I expected a great deal of credibility ... I was not disappointed.
The plot is intriguing, but the suspense moved very slowly. I liked the characters ... Colyear and his new rookie in particular. I loved the background ... visiting Scotland has been on my bucket list for years. I was expecting more .. but overall, it was a good read. I look forward to the next in the series, INTO THE DARK.
Many thanks to the author / Allison & Busby / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
November 19, 2020
Out in the Cold is the first instalment in the Sergeant Donald "Don” Colyear police procedural series, set in the fictional Scottish town of Stratharder, just north of the coastal fishing town of Oban in the Highlands. Thirty-three-year-old Sergeant Colyear has been promoted and transferred from his now untenable post in Glasgow to the remote town of Stratharder where the crime rate seems, at first glance, to be vastly lower. On his arrival at the station on his first day, he is shown around town by Constable Rowan Forbes, a young, friendly elfin girl. Staying at Hilda Brownhill’s home in the nearby town of Kirkmartin means it is only a short drive to work each day for Don. He is partnered up with Forbes and they begin to investigate the slew of crimes, mostly petty in nature, in the local area. But it doesn't take long for Don to realise that something isn't right in this town and that beneath the quiet, serene exterior lies sinister secrets and a dangerous pact of silence held by residents. Can Don use his famed gut instinct to get to the bottom of the strange and overwhelming level of crime, the spate of disappearances of young teenagers, a possible murder and a string of reports made about ongoing vandalism, that descends upon Stratharder?
This is a compulsive, slow-burn procedural with an action-packed, complex plot, which features several intermingling threads, and there's never a dull moment as Johnstone keeps you on your toes. I will say that it takes a little while to get used to the format of the story as the timeline shifts often without warning, which can be confusing initially, but it's well worth putting the effort in as this is a thoroughly enjoyable and convoluted thrill ride. Colyear’s interesting backstory is fed to the reader in digestible chunks throughout so as not to overwhelm and it works well; I was fascinated with the situation he found himself in and it was a refreshingly original personal story. The fact that it's told exclusively from Don’s perspective allows you to become more immersed in the goings-on, and in all honesty, if both the timeline and the point of view were both frequently changing I think it would've probably bombed. I loved the Scottish slang interspersings and the descriptions of the Highlands made me feel right at home in a comforting way. This is a high-octane, edge of your seat read made all the more authentic by the author being a former police officer. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Allison & Busby for an ARC.
This is a compulsive, slow-burn procedural with an action-packed, complex plot, which features several intermingling threads, and there's never a dull moment as Johnstone keeps you on your toes. I will say that it takes a little while to get used to the format of the story as the timeline shifts often without warning, which can be confusing initially, but it's well worth putting the effort in as this is a thoroughly enjoyable and convoluted thrill ride. Colyear’s interesting backstory is fed to the reader in digestible chunks throughout so as not to overwhelm and it works well; I was fascinated with the situation he found himself in and it was a refreshingly original personal story. The fact that it's told exclusively from Don’s perspective allows you to become more immersed in the goings-on, and in all honesty, if both the timeline and the point of view were both frequently changing I think it would've probably bombed. I loved the Scottish slang interspersings and the descriptions of the Highlands made me feel right at home in a comforting way. This is a high-octane, edge of your seat read made all the more authentic by the author being a former police officer. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Allison & Busby for an ARC.
December 9, 2020
was rather a fan of this novel- I do like a good Scottish setting, that plus the small town vibe and an interesting, relatable and darkly humorous main protagonist made this an excellent read.
There’s also of course the intuitive undertone to it that you would think might offer our Sergeant Colyyear an edge but somehow gets him into as much trouble as it gets him out of..
Therein lies one of the main hooks in this read for me – it is a crime novel plus, offering a decently unpredictable mystery, a group dynamic of vibrant characters and some really great writing but also an extra layer. I loved that aspect of it especially given the subtle way it was embedded into the story.
Overall a great read, memorable and clever. I hope there’s more to come.
Recommended.
There’s also of course the intuitive undertone to it that you would think might offer our Sergeant Colyyear an edge but somehow gets him into as much trouble as it gets him out of..
Therein lies one of the main hooks in this read for me – it is a crime novel plus, offering a decently unpredictable mystery, a group dynamic of vibrant characters and some really great writing but also an extra layer. I loved that aspect of it especially given the subtle way it was embedded into the story.
Overall a great read, memorable and clever. I hope there’s more to come.
Recommended.
February 5, 2021
Time taken to read - in and out over 3 days
Pages - 352
Publisher - Allison & Busby
Source - Review copy
Blurb from Goodreads
INTUITION IS EVERYTHING IN THE POLICE FORCE, SOMETHING THAT SERGEANT DON COLYEAR KNOWS BETTER THAN MOST.
When a superior officer's decision not to respond to a routine disturbance has fatal consequences, Colyear finds himself sent away from Glasgow to work in a remote Highlands town.
Despite not wanting to be there, a feeling shared by his commander, Colyear soon settles into life investigating petty crimes. But it isn't long before he discovers something sinister about the town. A series of teenage disappearances seem to have been ignored by the authorities, and when a groundsman from the local country estate is gruesomely murdered, Colyear suspects that long-held secrets could be coming to the surface. As the town's dark secrets are revealed, Colyear must trust his instincts to stay alive.
My Review
Colyear is a cop, transferred from Glasgow to a wee town, punishment for something that happened that we aren't immediately clued up on. Colyear is a good cop he also happens to have something different about him, a wee bit more than "cops instinct". When he tried to find his place in the new town he ends up with more than he bargained for. Secrets, lies, romantic interest and instead of the wee petty crimes he initially thought he was going to be dealing with, there is something bigger going on, something people may not want him looking at.
So the "gut instinct" thing he has going I think some readers may not like but actually I really did and hopefully this will be more developed in books to come. This is book one is what I hope is a long series. I think the reason I like Colyear, besides being a good guy, is because he is down to earth, he seems to find himself in trouble A LOT but he is a decent guy.
Settling into town Colyear finds himself the focus of speculation, not exactly wanted, getting into trouble when he tries to help. And as always a wee town, it's colourful characters (language and personalities) and dodgy happenings. Chapters aren't overly long and I got pulled in quite quickly, really looking forward to book two and seeing where the series goes, 4/5 for me this time.
Pages - 352
Publisher - Allison & Busby
Source - Review copy
Blurb from Goodreads
INTUITION IS EVERYTHING IN THE POLICE FORCE, SOMETHING THAT SERGEANT DON COLYEAR KNOWS BETTER THAN MOST.
When a superior officer's decision not to respond to a routine disturbance has fatal consequences, Colyear finds himself sent away from Glasgow to work in a remote Highlands town.
Despite not wanting to be there, a feeling shared by his commander, Colyear soon settles into life investigating petty crimes. But it isn't long before he discovers something sinister about the town. A series of teenage disappearances seem to have been ignored by the authorities, and when a groundsman from the local country estate is gruesomely murdered, Colyear suspects that long-held secrets could be coming to the surface. As the town's dark secrets are revealed, Colyear must trust his instincts to stay alive.
My Review
Colyear is a cop, transferred from Glasgow to a wee town, punishment for something that happened that we aren't immediately clued up on. Colyear is a good cop he also happens to have something different about him, a wee bit more than "cops instinct". When he tried to find his place in the new town he ends up with more than he bargained for. Secrets, lies, romantic interest and instead of the wee petty crimes he initially thought he was going to be dealing with, there is something bigger going on, something people may not want him looking at.
So the "gut instinct" thing he has going I think some readers may not like but actually I really did and hopefully this will be more developed in books to come. This is book one is what I hope is a long series. I think the reason I like Colyear, besides being a good guy, is because he is down to earth, he seems to find himself in trouble A LOT but he is a decent guy.
Settling into town Colyear finds himself the focus of speculation, not exactly wanted, getting into trouble when he tries to help. And as always a wee town, it's colourful characters (language and personalities) and dodgy happenings. Chapters aren't overly long and I got pulled in quite quickly, really looking forward to book two and seeing where the series goes, 4/5 for me this time.
February 1, 2021
I loved Out in the Cold by Stuart Johnstone. If you’re a fan of Paul Finch’s DS Mark Heckenburg series, then you need to give this a go. It’s pacy, addictive and really atmospheric.
When Don Colyear arrives in a remote Highlands town, after being transferred there from Glasgow, he isn’t exactly given a warm reception. In fact, his new boss tells him from the start that he didn’t want him there, and his placement in the town does seem strange as well. The police station is due to close within weeks, so what will happen to him after then? But there is a disturbing reason why he isn’t made to feel particularly welcome. Soon, Don finds himself very close to danger.
I love a crime novel set in an isolated location. There is tension right from the moment Don arrives in the town, and the setting made me feel very uncomfortable. I wanted to know why there was so much animosity towards Don when he first arrived. If I was in his position, I would have wanted to leave on the first day, particularly as the station was closing down soon anyway. There are times as well when Don himself questions why he stays.
But Don immediately feels that there isn’t something right about the town. Soon he becomes aware of reports of teenagers going missing. It is presumed they have run off to get out the town where there isn’t much going on. But Don thinks there is something more going on here. He also seems to be the only person interested in the disappearance, apart from the teenager’s parents. This I found really disturbing. I wanted to know what was going on here and I was rooting for Don to get to the truth. It’s what makes him stay as he knows that there is something here which he needs to get to the bottom of.
The pace in this novel flowed really well, and I loved the dialogue. I wouldn’t say it was, on the whole, a fast-paced read, but there are some taut scenes which had me on the edge of my seat. Stuart Johnstone describes these moments in the book really well, and the writing makes it feel as though the action is happening right in front of you. We also learn some intriguing things about Don as well, which does, in a way, gives the novel a hint of a supernatural element to it as well.
Out in the Cold is a must-read for police procedural fans. I’m hoping that there are going to many more books to come in this series.
When Don Colyear arrives in a remote Highlands town, after being transferred there from Glasgow, he isn’t exactly given a warm reception. In fact, his new boss tells him from the start that he didn’t want him there, and his placement in the town does seem strange as well. The police station is due to close within weeks, so what will happen to him after then? But there is a disturbing reason why he isn’t made to feel particularly welcome. Soon, Don finds himself very close to danger.
I love a crime novel set in an isolated location. There is tension right from the moment Don arrives in the town, and the setting made me feel very uncomfortable. I wanted to know why there was so much animosity towards Don when he first arrived. If I was in his position, I would have wanted to leave on the first day, particularly as the station was closing down soon anyway. There are times as well when Don himself questions why he stays.
But Don immediately feels that there isn’t something right about the town. Soon he becomes aware of reports of teenagers going missing. It is presumed they have run off to get out the town where there isn’t much going on. But Don thinks there is something more going on here. He also seems to be the only person interested in the disappearance, apart from the teenager’s parents. This I found really disturbing. I wanted to know what was going on here and I was rooting for Don to get to the truth. It’s what makes him stay as he knows that there is something here which he needs to get to the bottom of.
The pace in this novel flowed really well, and I loved the dialogue. I wouldn’t say it was, on the whole, a fast-paced read, but there are some taut scenes which had me on the edge of my seat. Stuart Johnstone describes these moments in the book really well, and the writing makes it feel as though the action is happening right in front of you. We also learn some intriguing things about Don as well, which does, in a way, gives the novel a hint of a supernatural element to it as well.
Out in the Cold is a must-read for police procedural fans. I’m hoping that there are going to many more books to come in this series.
October 27, 2020
Police sergeant Don Colyear has a very powerful and strong sense of intuition that's helped him solve cases beyond anyone's imagination. Now posted to a town where even petty crimes are rare, he's quick to notice that things are not as they seem and something's off about this whole town.
I liked the plot of this one, and the light tone in which the whole story is told is very enjoyable. And it's gripping from the get-go, the first chapter made me want to read it double time. It's a slow burn, and sure took its time to get started. It's an interesting read, but nothing that kept me from putting it down. The exchange between characters and their dynamics with each other was very entertaining and perhaps the best part of the story imo.
I understand that this is an ARC but there's something not right about the formatting of the whole thing that puts off the entire reading experience, there's no distinction between the events of past and present, and I had to read everything twice to make sense of it. Half-way through I found myself struggling to continue, which is a shame since that's where the good part started. But I think this makes for a pretty fair read, albeit one that's in dire need of some thorough editing.
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley, author, and publishers. All opinions are my own.
I liked the plot of this one, and the light tone in which the whole story is told is very enjoyable. And it's gripping from the get-go, the first chapter made me want to read it double time. It's a slow burn, and sure took its time to get started. It's an interesting read, but nothing that kept me from putting it down. The exchange between characters and their dynamics with each other was very entertaining and perhaps the best part of the story imo.
I understand that this is an ARC but there's something not right about the formatting of the whole thing that puts off the entire reading experience, there's no distinction between the events of past and present, and I had to read everything twice to make sense of it. Half-way through I found myself struggling to continue, which is a shame since that's where the good part started. But I think this makes for a pretty fair read, albeit one that's in dire need of some thorough editing.
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley, author, and publishers. All opinions are my own.
November 8, 2021
My very short review. I'm not a fan. I should not begrudge the few pages I've read. Not funny, nor even interesting.
November 5, 2020
I would like to thank Netgalley and Allison & Busby for an advance copy of Out in the Cold, a police procedural featuring Sergeant Don Colyear, set in the fictional Scottish town of Stratharder.
After a spot of trouble in Glasgow Don Colyear is promoted and transferred to Stratharder, a remote highland town. It’s not long before Don realises that something isn’t quite right underneath the quiet façade but with a spate of vandalism, a possible murder and the disappearance of a string of teenagers he’s not got much time for deep digging.
I thoroughly enjoyed Out in the Cold which is slow to start but soon accelerates to a high octane finish. Technically the format of the novel is something I complain about frequently, shifting timelines and unexplained circumstances with no apparent relevance but I found it all intriguing and very moreish, perhaps because it is told entirely from Don Colyear’s point view. I was fascinated by why he is in his current circumstances (not what I expected) and what caused his transfer to Stratharder. The answers and what’s wrong in the town are teased out over the course of the novel.
I am always drawn to Scottish crime fiction as there is comfort in the familiar. I must admit that I know little about the Highlands so I didn’t get much sense of familiarity from the location, in fact I don’t think there is much, apart from multiple references to Oban, to identify the location as Scottish and it could be any small town in the UK. There is more of a sense of Scottishness in some of the slang used. It’s not excessive or obscure enough to put readers off, just a taste of Scotland.
The author is a former police officer and this shines through in the character of Don Colyear and the band of brotherhood that seems to permeate the force. Don is a bit of a loner, not buying in to the brotherhood, who takes a common sense approach to policing. I like his voice and his story and would welcome hearing more from him.
Out in the Cold is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
After a spot of trouble in Glasgow Don Colyear is promoted and transferred to Stratharder, a remote highland town. It’s not long before Don realises that something isn’t quite right underneath the quiet façade but with a spate of vandalism, a possible murder and the disappearance of a string of teenagers he’s not got much time for deep digging.
I thoroughly enjoyed Out in the Cold which is slow to start but soon accelerates to a high octane finish. Technically the format of the novel is something I complain about frequently, shifting timelines and unexplained circumstances with no apparent relevance but I found it all intriguing and very moreish, perhaps because it is told entirely from Don Colyear’s point view. I was fascinated by why he is in his current circumstances (not what I expected) and what caused his transfer to Stratharder. The answers and what’s wrong in the town are teased out over the course of the novel.
I am always drawn to Scottish crime fiction as there is comfort in the familiar. I must admit that I know little about the Highlands so I didn’t get much sense of familiarity from the location, in fact I don’t think there is much, apart from multiple references to Oban, to identify the location as Scottish and it could be any small town in the UK. There is more of a sense of Scottishness in some of the slang used. It’s not excessive or obscure enough to put readers off, just a taste of Scotland.
The author is a former police officer and this shines through in the character of Don Colyear and the band of brotherhood that seems to permeate the force. Don is a bit of a loner, not buying in to the brotherhood, who takes a common sense approach to policing. I like his voice and his story and would welcome hearing more from him.
Out in the Cold is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
July 10, 2022
Police story with a difference, set in the west of Scotland
July 11, 2025
Solid enough police procedural, just took a little too much time to get where it was going. Don's quasi-supernatural (literal) gut instinct seemed unnecessary, could have done without that.
January 17, 2022
I downloaded this from audible for two reasons: one, I am a massive fan of the 'tartan noir' genre; two, this novel is read by David Monteath, who so excellently narrated all of Denzil Meryrick's DCI Daley crime thrillers which I massively enjoyed.
Johnstone unfortunately has not written the crime thriller I was hoping for, but more a novel about a troubled seargent with a bit of policing thrown in.
Overall, too many questions were left unanswered, which I find the most frustrating and disappointing litcome after reading any sort of crime novel.
Who was responsible for the abduction/rape/murder of the girls? We are told Olgivly was not at 'the top of the pyramid,' so what role did he play? Did the newphew take over at some point, or was it the nephew's plan all along? Why? Was it just the Olgivly family at the start, or was it a town-wide pack that killed and raped together from the outset? If so, how did Olgivly decide who to trust? Or which of the men first voiced the idea to rape and murder the town's teenagers together? How were the girls selected or abducted? Where they offered money or employment on Olgilvy's estate? Or were they groomed in some way? It is still not made clear to the reader WHO in the town is involved (was it everyone at the card table?) Why were some employees not allowed to join in - even when they demonstrated their willingness to join by perversely photographing their own daughter? How was the Inspector blackmailed into joining the cover up? The reader is left to surmise at some point Olgivly and/or his henchmen informed the Inspector they would be killing and raping and if he didn't go along with it his family would be threatened, and the Inspector simply said 'okay.' Why didn't the Inspector move his family to Australia ahead of him? Why not inform someone in Glasgow? Did he really believe he would be allowed to retire with all he knows?
Unfortunately, the reader is not given the answer to any of these questions as Johnstone kills Olgilvy, his nephew, the Inspector and a few henchmen. This is lazy writing akin to 'and then they all woke up.' Killing off every character before the reader is given one interview, one arrest, one confession is incredibly frustrating and leaves you wondering why graphic descriptions of somebody blowing off half their face with a shotgun is more important than offering the reader some answers.
I also didn't enjoy the first person narration, which, without much inner monologue from Sergeant Colyear left the reader feeling exactly like Rowan - an inexperienced police officer who spends most of the novel exasperatedly demanding Colyear share his thinking with her and wondering what is going on.
Finally, much of the plot rests on the premises that an entire town was willing to believe it was so bad to live there that teenagers would repeatedly disappear and never come back. If that is the case, this is not explained enough to the reader. Surely the point of creating a fictional Scottish town 'miles away from civilisation' is to utilise the landscape: barren, wild, harsh, unforgiving, the same way Victorian London was so essential to echo the gothic genre of Jekyll and Hyde for example. Johnstone presents Stratharder as a bit bleak and a bit boring, but it is not enough for the reader to understand why fleeing would be so commonplace.
Johnstone unfortunately has not written the crime thriller I was hoping for, but more a novel about a troubled seargent with a bit of policing thrown in.
Overall, too many questions were left unanswered, which I find the most frustrating and disappointing litcome after reading any sort of crime novel.
Who was responsible for the abduction/rape/murder of the girls? We are told Olgivly was not at 'the top of the pyramid,' so what role did he play? Did the newphew take over at some point, or was it the nephew's plan all along? Why? Was it just the Olgivly family at the start, or was it a town-wide pack that killed and raped together from the outset? If so, how did Olgivly decide who to trust? Or which of the men first voiced the idea to rape and murder the town's teenagers together? How were the girls selected or abducted? Where they offered money or employment on Olgilvy's estate? Or were they groomed in some way? It is still not made clear to the reader WHO in the town is involved (was it everyone at the card table?) Why were some employees not allowed to join in - even when they demonstrated their willingness to join by perversely photographing their own daughter? How was the Inspector blackmailed into joining the cover up? The reader is left to surmise at some point Olgivly and/or his henchmen informed the Inspector they would be killing and raping and if he didn't go along with it his family would be threatened, and the Inspector simply said 'okay.' Why didn't the Inspector move his family to Australia ahead of him? Why not inform someone in Glasgow? Did he really believe he would be allowed to retire with all he knows?
Unfortunately, the reader is not given the answer to any of these questions as Johnstone kills Olgilvy, his nephew, the Inspector and a few henchmen. This is lazy writing akin to 'and then they all woke up.' Killing off every character before the reader is given one interview, one arrest, one confession is incredibly frustrating and leaves you wondering why graphic descriptions of somebody blowing off half their face with a shotgun is more important than offering the reader some answers.
I also didn't enjoy the first person narration, which, without much inner monologue from Sergeant Colyear left the reader feeling exactly like Rowan - an inexperienced police officer who spends most of the novel exasperatedly demanding Colyear share his thinking with her and wondering what is going on.
Finally, much of the plot rests on the premises that an entire town was willing to believe it was so bad to live there that teenagers would repeatedly disappear and never come back. If that is the case, this is not explained enough to the reader. Surely the point of creating a fictional Scottish town 'miles away from civilisation' is to utilise the landscape: barren, wild, harsh, unforgiving, the same way Victorian London was so essential to echo the gothic genre of Jekyll and Hyde for example. Johnstone presents Stratharder as a bit bleak and a bit boring, but it is not enough for the reader to understand why fleeing would be so commonplace.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2020
Not a bad storyline and did enjoy the characters but the writing style of going back to the past then back to the present got rather confusing at times.
November 6, 2020
I liked the Scottish setting of this book and it had an interesting plot. Although it was a bit slow and jumped between the past and the present, which made it difficult for me to get into. I liked the main character of Don and his colleague Rowan. This has the promise of a good series, if there is a follow up, with just a bit more clarity with plot construction and editing. Overall, I enjoyed the read. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.
November 6, 2020
Well when I registered this on Good reads, the reviews were not great . But I never let anything like that put me off so I started to read. At first, the story was confusing, with flashbacks, life at work and Don finding himself in a compromising position, but as the book progressed, I liked the way the story developed. The descriptions of the town /village involved were realistic and I could understand Don's feeling that something was not right.
For me, one criticism would be the story of Carly, there were several references to it, but beyond being an example of Don's intuition, it did not seem to add much to the story and as a reader I wanted to know more.
I hope to read more about Don and that he gets on OK. This book surpassed my expectations, thank you !
Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For me, one criticism would be the story of Carly, there were several references to it, but beyond being an example of Don's intuition, it did not seem to add much to the story and as a reader I wanted to know more.
I hope to read more about Don and that he gets on OK. This book surpassed my expectations, thank you !
Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 19, 2020
After a nasty incident in Glasgow Don Colyear is sent to Stratharder, North of Oban. He is not exactly made welcome. The local Inspector wants him gone as soon as possible, the locals wonder why he's there. The only bright spot is the eager young constable, Rowan. At first it seems a very quiet posting, dealing with small vandalism cases. When a local man is found dead in odd circumstances things get a bit more complicated! The story switches from present to past & back again, which makes it somewhat difficult to follow. This book appealed to me because of its setting. Overall it was a bit of a disappointment. However I liked the characters well enough & if there was a follow up I would be quite keen to read it.
Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.
Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.
November 9, 2020
This was like a warm hug of a book. The scenery descriptions were wonderful, I really wanted to go there and holiday - if it wasn't for the crime wave.
The relationship between Don and Rowena was really good and real.
What I did struggle with was the time jumps and not really understanding the reasons for the move until nearly the middle of the book so I struggled a bit with who was who and how they impacted onto the story.
It definitely looked like it was setting up for a sequel which I will definitely read as, despite the above criticism I did enjoy the book. and want to explore these characters.
I am grateful to Netgalley and Allison & Busby for an advance copy for an honest and fair review which I have done.
The relationship between Don and Rowena was really good and real.
What I did struggle with was the time jumps and not really understanding the reasons for the move until nearly the middle of the book so I struggled a bit with who was who and how they impacted onto the story.
It definitely looked like it was setting up for a sequel which I will definitely read as, despite the above criticism I did enjoy the book. and want to explore these characters.
I am grateful to Netgalley and Allison & Busby for an advance copy for an honest and fair review which I have done.
July 27, 2022
Out in the Cold had an intriguing beginning to the story. I did like both the main character and his partner, John. But I struggled with the story. The scenes sometimes did not flow smoothly into the next, and I struggled in the middle of the book as it felt slow and taking too long to make a point or move the story forward in the action. I couldn't connect with the other characters except for John, really, and I wasn't invested in the outcome of the story. I had a difficult time even finishing the book.
I think another editing pass or a developmental editor would be helpful in fleshing out the story and making the scenes smoother and the characters more engaging and dimensional.
#OutintheCold #NetGalley
I think another editing pass or a developmental editor would be helpful in fleshing out the story and making the scenes smoother and the characters more engaging and dimensional.
#OutintheCold #NetGalley
November 18, 2020
Don Colyear figured policing would be quieter in Stratharder than in Glasgow. He didn't figure on the fact that there's a subtle crime wave going on - one that's been around for a long time. A murder brings out a whole set of secrets (no spoilers from me). His new partner- Rowan- is a rookie. That makes for some tough times but also for some smart dialogue. Don's backstory spools out slowly in this novel that moves back and forth in time (be prepared to occasionally be a bit confused). The characters are good and I liked the setting. It does start off slowly but stick with it. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. For fans of Scottish procedurals.
January 24, 2021
Stuart Johnstone is a new author to me but #OutInTheCold has made sure that I will be looking out for more of his work and as any self respecting bookworm knows it's always a pleasure to find a new author to add to the list. I've got my fingers crossed that this is the start of what is going to be a decent SPP (Scottish Police Procedural).
In this we meet Sargent Don Colyear who is freshly promoted and shipped out to Stratharder up in the Highlands, a place that he assumes is going to be a sleepy backwater where nothing much would be happening, that turned out to be a bit of a mistake. It seems as if like any other small town it has it's secrets. The natives treat him as if he were an interloper which is to the detriment of the main case in #OutInTheCold and small towns/large villages are like this I know from my own experience.
The new boy in Stratharder is teamed up with rookie Constable Rowan Forbes and there's plenty of 'bantz' between them which I think will be much needed as I expect Stratharder to become a rather dangerous place to live. I must admit it will be interesting to watch some of the other characters develop as the series goes along.
As we learn about the incident that had him transported to the back of beyond and how because of said incident he now has many enemies within the police fraternity. This has ovbiously left him with doubts of his 'intuition' and a sense mistrust, not that that comes as a surprise.
Stratharder appears to be an almost sleepy serene kind of place to live, with not much more than a batch of mindless vandalism and a possible murder it doesn't seem too hectic a place. Underneath that cosy exterior ther'es a spate of missing teenage girls that appear to be almost being ignored and Dan just can't allow this to continue and as you can guess resolving this is going to be anything but plain sailing.
Read for an honest review. Thanks to Stuart Johnstone, #Netgalley and Allison & Busby
In this we meet Sargent Don Colyear who is freshly promoted and shipped out to Stratharder up in the Highlands, a place that he assumes is going to be a sleepy backwater where nothing much would be happening, that turned out to be a bit of a mistake. It seems as if like any other small town it has it's secrets. The natives treat him as if he were an interloper which is to the detriment of the main case in #OutInTheCold and small towns/large villages are like this I know from my own experience.
The new boy in Stratharder is teamed up with rookie Constable Rowan Forbes and there's plenty of 'bantz' between them which I think will be much needed as I expect Stratharder to become a rather dangerous place to live. I must admit it will be interesting to watch some of the other characters develop as the series goes along.
As we learn about the incident that had him transported to the back of beyond and how because of said incident he now has many enemies within the police fraternity. This has ovbiously left him with doubts of his 'intuition' and a sense mistrust, not that that comes as a surprise.
Stratharder appears to be an almost sleepy serene kind of place to live, with not much more than a batch of mindless vandalism and a possible murder it doesn't seem too hectic a place. Underneath that cosy exterior ther'es a spate of missing teenage girls that appear to be almost being ignored and Dan just can't allow this to continue and as you can guess resolving this is going to be anything but plain sailing.
Read for an honest review. Thanks to Stuart Johnstone, #Netgalley and Allison & Busby
March 26, 2021
The beginning of the book was interesting but I really struggled. The working relationship between Rowan and Don connected well with witty and clever dialogue but I still couldn't connect with the characters or the story. Other readers may find Stuart's type of writing addictive, funny and inspiring but for me, the story didn't flow and chapters jumped about so much I was going to give up, and half way through I did! Other readers may find the storyline absorbing but, for me, it did not hit the spot!
I give this a 3 star rate.
I WANT TO THANK NERGALLEY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF READING AN ADVANCED COPY OF THIS BOOK
I give this a 3 star rate.
I WANT TO THANK NERGALLEY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF READING AN ADVANCED COPY OF THIS BOOK
October 22, 2022
2.5 stars rounded up.
I didn't not like this book, I did enjoy the plot but like other reviewers have said the jumping back and forth in time is confusing and it takes a while for the plot to actually take hold, and is a slow burner. I prefer a faster-paced book that keeps me turning the pages and this did not I had to really push through to keep reading until it got semi-okay (about 3/4 through).
The character development was good, both main characters are very likable and their relationship is enjoyable. There were a few characters that I was confused by.
Unless I am mistaken we also never find out who committed the murder of Cooper. unless I have completely glanced over that part.
I didn't not like this book, I did enjoy the plot but like other reviewers have said the jumping back and forth in time is confusing and it takes a while for the plot to actually take hold, and is a slow burner. I prefer a faster-paced book that keeps me turning the pages and this did not I had to really push through to keep reading until it got semi-okay (about 3/4 through).
The character development was good, both main characters are very likable and their relationship is enjoyable. There were a few characters that I was confused by.
Unless I am mistaken we also never find out who committed the murder of Cooper. unless I have completely glanced over that part.
November 4, 2020
This book is the slowest of slow burns. I was starting chapter 4 when I finally had to check and make sure I was reading the right book. I was expecting a cracking Scottish-set mystery/thriller and that far into the book, all that had been established was that it was indeed taking place in Scotland. The central mystery turned out to be basically a big whatever and I didn’t really like any of the characters, including the protagonist. But still, there was something about it that I found charming. Perhaps it was just the world the author built.
December 6, 2025
Out in the Cold pulled me so completely into its world that I felt like I was right there, shadowing Don Colyear like an invisible ghost. I loved being beside him, witnessing every detail of the Scottish police work as if I were part of the investigation. Atmospheric, gripping, and vividly written, the story moves seamlessly from past to present and back again — a style I absolutely loved. Thank you, Stuart Johnstone. I can’t wait to read everything you’ve written.
November 17, 2020
A well written police procedural with some good character building and background description. The backstory of the protagonist is introduced seamlessly in different parts of the story. Due to the lack of editing the sudden change in scenarios is confusing which I hope is rectified in the final version. The main plot starts quite late but picks up fast. Looking forward to the next one.
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