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DCI Harry McNeil #11
Fall from Grace
A mythical man known as Nightmare, haunted young children for years. Until he became real. DCI Harry McNeil knows the legend all too well. Growing up in the Highlands, Nightmare was on his and every other child's mind as they went to sleep. Then, Nightmare claimed his first victim. A young girl, found dead in an abandoned cemetery with the words, I am Nightmare, carved into her chest. Two more victims, the same words carved into them. Then Nightmare disappears. Now, years later, there have been reports of graffiti being sprayed around Inverness and on graves in old cemeteries. Is Nightmare back? The question is on the lips of residents who are starting to feel uneasy. Initially dismissed as a prank, things start to get all too real. A Glasgow couple are talking to their adult daughter on Zoom. She is a reporter for an online magazine and is in the Highlands reporting on Nightmare. She is being chased through the woods. The couple don't know if their daughter is spooked or if somebody is really chasing her. The call is cut and they call the police. The next morning, her body is found in a cemetery. I am Nightmare is carved into her chest. Harry McNeil is sent to the Highlands with a team from Glasgow. Their job is to hunt down a killer who once only existed in fevered minds. Once again, he's all too real. I am Nightmare. Catch me if you can...** Please note - there are spoilers in this book for a previous Harry McNeil title, Devil to Pay. If you haven't read that one, I suggest you read that first **
230 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 14, 2021
422 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
John Carson
103 books161 followersJohn Carson is the author of the DI Frank Miller detective series. He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland and lived there most of his life. In 2006, he emigrated to New York State with his American wife and two daughters. They now live in a small town in the Hudson Valley where his wife was brought up, with a German Shepherd, a Beagle mix and four cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
August 22, 2021
Was very disappointed in this book. Choppy story, a lot more swearing, sudden death of Alex. Just didn’t flow. Seemed very thrown together.
July 17, 2021
Excellent read
Love this series, amazing characters, gritty storylines and lots of banter. Got to say the ending is devastating, I had tears rolling down my face, so very sad 😢. I read this in one sitting as with all these books I find them impossible to put down. Can't wait till the next book, thank you.
Love this series, amazing characters, gritty storylines and lots of banter. Got to say the ending is devastating, I had tears rolling down my face, so very sad 😢. I read this in one sitting as with all these books I find them impossible to put down. Can't wait till the next book, thank you.
November 22, 2022
When Hannah Keddie is murdered on the site of a thirty year old crime scene in Inverness members of Edinburgh and Glasgow Major Investigation Teams are seconded in to help catch the perpetrator. It has all the hallmarks of a case called the Nightmare Man, up until that point the nightmare man was what parents told their children to get them to go to sleep or keep them out of mischief.
DCI Harry McNeill from Edinburgh MIT and DI Jimmy Dunbar, DS Robbie Evans and DSupt Calvin Stewart are all on their way to Inverness as they've got more experience in dealing with murder investigations than the locals. Hannah had a true crime podcast and she was live on her YouTube channel talking to her parents when the crime was committed, they thought it was a prank as she'd had previous for doing this sort of thing. It wasn't until the next morning when they hadn't heard from her and the B&B owner where she was staying confirmed she hadn't returned that they raised the alarm but sadly by then it was too late and her body was found on the site where the three original murders took place.
Harry and his wife Alex had just had a baby girl called Grace three months ago and he loved them both to bits which made it all the more difficult when he had to leave them behind to go work on a case. Alex also a police officer is debating whether to go back to work soon, Harry would prefer her to be a full-time mum but being a detective is part of who Alex is and she thinks he doesn't realise that, although not causing friction she thinks he's against her returning to the job now they have a child.
Harry's brother Derek knows he's going to Inverness their home up until Harry was twelve and has asked if he can tag along to visit family and take in some old haunts they grew up around. Harry insists he's there to work but that if he's got time they can meet up at night and maybe have a few beers which Derek agrees to and he has to pay his own way as they can't add his expenses to the Police Scotland tab.
When they start working on the case a case they know all too well as Harry's dad George McNeill also a police officer had worked the initial inquiry, they start to believe it's a copycat as the man suspected of the killings of the three girls murdered originally, Jeremy Wilson, had died in a fire years later where the building collapsed too That time he had tried to kill Harry's son Chance but Alex had jumped in front of the boy and took the bullet which saved Chance's life and almost cost her her own life. Although Wilson's body was never formally identified all of the detectives on scene at the time the building collapsed signed an affidavit that the body collected from the rubble was indeed his.
As they start to work the case there's so many similarities to the original Nightmare Man case they are convinced it's got to be a copycat as burned corpses with every bone shattered don't normally get up and commit murder and there's no way he could've got out of that burning building alive is there?
Is it a copycat killer? Jeremy Wilson couldn't have got out of a burning building that collapsed could he? If he did how could he have found a body to take his place? You'll have to read the book to find out and you'll need a handkerchief too.
DCI Harry McNeill from Edinburgh MIT and DI Jimmy Dunbar, DS Robbie Evans and DSupt Calvin Stewart are all on their way to Inverness as they've got more experience in dealing with murder investigations than the locals. Hannah had a true crime podcast and she was live on her YouTube channel talking to her parents when the crime was committed, they thought it was a prank as she'd had previous for doing this sort of thing. It wasn't until the next morning when they hadn't heard from her and the B&B owner where she was staying confirmed she hadn't returned that they raised the alarm but sadly by then it was too late and her body was found on the site where the three original murders took place.
Harry and his wife Alex had just had a baby girl called Grace three months ago and he loved them both to bits which made it all the more difficult when he had to leave them behind to go work on a case. Alex also a police officer is debating whether to go back to work soon, Harry would prefer her to be a full-time mum but being a detective is part of who Alex is and she thinks he doesn't realise that, although not causing friction she thinks he's against her returning to the job now they have a child.
Harry's brother Derek knows he's going to Inverness their home up until Harry was twelve and has asked if he can tag along to visit family and take in some old haunts they grew up around. Harry insists he's there to work but that if he's got time they can meet up at night and maybe have a few beers which Derek agrees to and he has to pay his own way as they can't add his expenses to the Police Scotland tab.
When they start working on the case a case they know all too well as Harry's dad George McNeill also a police officer had worked the initial inquiry, they start to believe it's a copycat as the man suspected of the killings of the three girls murdered originally, Jeremy Wilson, had died in a fire years later where the building collapsed too That time he had tried to kill Harry's son Chance but Alex had jumped in front of the boy and took the bullet which saved Chance's life and almost cost her her own life. Although Wilson's body was never formally identified all of the detectives on scene at the time the building collapsed signed an affidavit that the body collected from the rubble was indeed his.
As they start to work the case there's so many similarities to the original Nightmare Man case they are convinced it's got to be a copycat as burned corpses with every bone shattered don't normally get up and commit murder and there's no way he could've got out of that burning building alive is there?
Is it a copycat killer? Jeremy Wilson couldn't have got out of a burning building that collapsed could he? If he did how could he have found a body to take his place? You'll have to read the book to find out and you'll need a handkerchief too.
October 14, 2022
DCI Harry McNeil returns up to the Highlands when a sudden rush of murdered women appears in the cemetery with “I am Nightmare” carved into their chests. Has the old Boogeyman really returned or is something even more sinister afoot?
I have been reading this series for quite some time and still continue to enjoy the easy, smooth voice these stories have but also the banter and connection the group of characters have together. There is now a decent sized core group, both with Harry’s Edinburgh team and the equivalent Glasgow team so frequently joining in to work the cases together. The larger size of the main group of characters leads me to suggest that for a full appreciation of this (and the other) novels readers should have read at least a few prior books in this series. Absolutely read them all and from the start as each of these books are great, but with such a decent sized cast I feel readers won’t get a full appreciation of the storyline and importance of the case without at least some prior knowledge of the characters and the setup.
I also feel it important to note (without spoilers) that there is a major character death in this book. For the most part I feel this death was well handled and to some degree I could see it coming throughout the story. If I’m being really picky, I felt the final quarter or so of the book felt a little rushed to me – but that very likely could have been due to the fact a number of critical things happened in a short space of time and I read the last of the book all in one sitting. This might have made me feel everything was a bit rushed as there was quite a sense of urgency and the plot cumulating and no real fault of the author or story itself.
I admit I am very interested in how the next book (or next few books) progress, and how Harry deals with the major character death. I was surprised that a number of loose ends from the previous books were fairly neatly wrapped up and I definitely appreciated how the author handled the somewhat convoluted plotline and managed to draw a number of various parts together for this book. I also feel a re-read of the story will help a number of these parts to solidify well and I could see this being one of those books where a few re-reads give greater clarification and picking up of missed items.
Overall, I found this to be a very well plotted, decently paced murder mystery. There is a good amount of character ribaldry and interaction which I really enjoyed and a solid and properly complex plot which both add great weight and enjoyment to the book in my opinion. While I don’t feel readers should start with this book the series overall is quite excellent and is well with the time and money investment. I am eager to see what happens next and will absolutely be continuing with the next in the series.
I have been reading this series for quite some time and still continue to enjoy the easy, smooth voice these stories have but also the banter and connection the group of characters have together. There is now a decent sized core group, both with Harry’s Edinburgh team and the equivalent Glasgow team so frequently joining in to work the cases together. The larger size of the main group of characters leads me to suggest that for a full appreciation of this (and the other) novels readers should have read at least a few prior books in this series. Absolutely read them all and from the start as each of these books are great, but with such a decent sized cast I feel readers won’t get a full appreciation of the storyline and importance of the case without at least some prior knowledge of the characters and the setup.
I also feel it important to note (without spoilers) that there is a major character death in this book. For the most part I feel this death was well handled and to some degree I could see it coming throughout the story. If I’m being really picky, I felt the final quarter or so of the book felt a little rushed to me – but that very likely could have been due to the fact a number of critical things happened in a short space of time and I read the last of the book all in one sitting. This might have made me feel everything was a bit rushed as there was quite a sense of urgency and the plot cumulating and no real fault of the author or story itself.
I admit I am very interested in how the next book (or next few books) progress, and how Harry deals with the major character death. I was surprised that a number of loose ends from the previous books were fairly neatly wrapped up and I definitely appreciated how the author handled the somewhat convoluted plotline and managed to draw a number of various parts together for this book. I also feel a re-read of the story will help a number of these parts to solidify well and I could see this being one of those books where a few re-reads give greater clarification and picking up of missed items.
Overall, I found this to be a very well plotted, decently paced murder mystery. There is a good amount of character ribaldry and interaction which I really enjoyed and a solid and properly complex plot which both add great weight and enjoyment to the book in my opinion. While I don’t feel readers should start with this book the series overall is quite excellent and is well with the time and money investment. I am eager to see what happens next and will absolutely be continuing with the next in the series.
November 28, 2021
Especially gripping...
I knew that Alex couldn't last. For several books I have watched her become more and more irrational and controlling. Carson could not have allowed her to become so irritating Unless he had plans for her. It's become quite a muddle of serial killers, or colluders up in Inverness, I'm not sure I know who was involved, particularly in the old school police force. Love the books and will continue to read as the tale unravels. One thing puzzles me, the use of the endearment " Honey" ". I've visited Scotland many, many times and have plenty of Scottish friends, but none of them use that word, except as a condiment. Is it part of the writer's new American life creeping in? Have to confess that I'm always suspicious of writers / actors who make a new life across the pond. That culture, accent, use ( or abuse ) of language is insidious, and doesn't travel well. Always stands out as invasive.
I knew that Alex couldn't last. For several books I have watched her become more and more irrational and controlling. Carson could not have allowed her to become so irritating Unless he had plans for her. It's become quite a muddle of serial killers, or colluders up in Inverness, I'm not sure I know who was involved, particularly in the old school police force. Love the books and will continue to read as the tale unravels. One thing puzzles me, the use of the endearment " Honey" ". I've visited Scotland many, many times and have plenty of Scottish friends, but none of them use that word, except as a condiment. Is it part of the writer's new American life creeping in? Have to confess that I'm always suspicious of writers / actors who make a new life across the pond. That culture, accent, use ( or abuse ) of language is insidious, and doesn't travel well. Always stands out as invasive.
July 18, 2021
Sorry John, I have read this series from book 1 but I am sure that the original 8 were not this bad. Not for the characters or the great story-lines understand but the last two are just way OTT with local speak. This means I have to decode the whole thing while reading and it just makes the books unreadable for me. It takes away the suspense to the point where I just stop, mark as read and move on.
There are many great police proceedural writers out there who also use local speak and swearing but for some reason can be read without any problems at all so I will stick with them. This is a pity as I have been a fan of the McNeil series from the first book and have pre-ordered where possible but no longer. That's it, I'm gone.
Denis.
There are many great police proceedural writers out there who also use local speak and swearing but for some reason can be read without any problems at all so I will stick with them. This is a pity as I have been a fan of the McNeil series from the first book and have pre-ordered where possible but no longer. That's it, I'm gone.
Denis.
February 14, 2022
Not so good
I have read all the earlier books from the series, and they are excellent. The characters interaction is smooth and very humorous. The story lines have been so good, you don't want to put the book down. However Fall from Grace has been just that, a short story that continued the story from earlier books. It seemed rushed and when I reached the final chapter, it made a huge jump in the story line that made little sense, in fact I had to keep going back to the earlier chapter thinking my Kindle had missed a chapter or two, but no, that was the story. Sorry to say but this is the worst of the series, almost as if the author had run out of ideas.
I have read all the earlier books from the series, and they are excellent. The characters interaction is smooth and very humorous. The story lines have been so good, you don't want to put the book down. However Fall from Grace has been just that, a short story that continued the story from earlier books. It seemed rushed and when I reached the final chapter, it made a huge jump in the story line that made little sense, in fact I had to keep going back to the earlier chapter thinking my Kindle had missed a chapter or two, but no, that was the story. Sorry to say but this is the worst of the series, almost as if the author had run out of ideas.
July 16, 2021
Except!
It is shocking, scary, fast paved, involved, and very sad! Wonderful story line, interesting characters, too many suspects, past history entwined with present, and sins of the fathers has a huge impact! This is definitely different that the usual police investigation! Still find DSup Stewart to be foul mouthed and disgusting and the ending is tragic and shocking! I am dismayed !
It is shocking, scary, fast paved, involved, and very sad! Wonderful story line, interesting characters, too many suspects, past history entwined with present, and sins of the fathers has a huge impact! This is definitely different that the usual police investigation! Still find DSup Stewart to be foul mouthed and disgusting and the ending is tragic and shocking! I am dismayed !
August 28, 2021
I love this series but was overwhelmed by all the characters and banter in this book. Thinking I was going to not finish it I went to the comments and read what turned out to be a drastic spoiler. SERVES ME RIGHT for not following my do not read comments till end of book. LOL It did however spur me on to read to the end which made me dislike the book even more. That being said I am looking forward to reading the next John Carson book.
April 18, 2022
CAUTION this review contains a spoiler: This was one of the better books in this series: a good thriller, funny and really sad. From the title of the book to the name of their daughter to the question posed by Alex to Harry "What would you do if this was our last day together?". It was obvious to me how this book would end from the start but I still cried in the end. Alex was one of my favorite characters, she will be missed.
July 18, 2021
I think the other books need to be read first.
I don’t know if it is because this story is the first in the series that I have read. But to me it was too general, and the players sounded hollow. It is because of this I gave it four stars. I would have given it a score of 3.5 out of five, because I think the author could have given it more depth.
I don’t know if it is because this story is the first in the series that I have read. But to me it was too general, and the players sounded hollow. It is because of this I gave it four stars. I would have given it a score of 3.5 out of five, because I think the author could have given it more depth.
February 20, 2022
A captivating read
I have read the full series of these books so far and they are truly amazing although this one has a very sad ending for Harry. I love the characters and the roasting which has me in stitches. All in all a brilliant series for all crime enthusiasts who like a good plot and like to see the baddies banged up!
I have read the full series of these books so far and they are truly amazing although this one has a very sad ending for Harry. I love the characters and the roasting which has me in stitches. All in all a brilliant series for all crime enthusiasts who like a good plot and like to see the baddies banged up!
February 23, 2022
Another Mystery Worth Reading
Book 11 is a continuation of a previous book following a serial killer of young women and resolving the mystery. It's a good read although it would be vastly improved had Calvin Steward not been included. He's foul mouthed and poorly behaved. That's the only thing not on the positive side about this book.
Book 11 is a continuation of a previous book following a serial killer of young women and resolving the mystery. It's a good read although it would be vastly improved had Calvin Steward not been included. He's foul mouthed and poorly behaved. That's the only thing not on the positive side about this book.
May 12, 2022
Good story pity about the ending.
Poor ending found it to be disjointed, after a good build up it was over in a flash. It sometime appears that the story and build up have been thought through and then we need to end it as quickly as possible.
Still enjoy the characters and John's writing style.
Poor ending found it to be disjointed, after a good build up it was over in a flash. It sometime appears that the story and build up have been thought through and then we need to end it as quickly as possible.
Still enjoy the characters and John's writing style.
July 5, 2022
I could definitely do without DSup Calvin Stewart. His character is more of a caricature and detracts greatly from the stories. He is fast putting me off this series which started out so full of promise.
There is an unannounced twist to this story which will steal the breath away and play havoc with the emotions
There is an unannounced twist to this story which will steal the breath away and play havoc with the emotions
July 31, 2022
Not as good as the other stories.
I love the cast of characters in the series. This book made some huge leaps in the story line that was not always smooth. There were some major gaps a nd it seemed like the author was just trying to wrap up the story quickly. I did not like who he decided to kill off at the end. It felt very cheap.
I love the cast of characters in the series. This book made some huge leaps in the story line that was not always smooth. There were some major gaps a nd it seemed like the author was just trying to wrap up the story quickly. I did not like who he decided to kill off at the end. It felt very cheap.
August 7, 2022
Have read all harry mcneils books enjoyed them all until Stewart became one of the main characters, far too much foul language, it has fair put me off reading anymore, as a Scot myself, I have never heard anyone speak like that, I’m sure that a high ranking police officer would never speak to anyone like that, please stop the swearing
May 17, 2023
The Nightmare is a scary one, and I like that it ties in with a previous story, but I still get confused at who is a bad guy or girl, or who isn't. How is it that a good character is suddenly not good? And the death of one of my favorite characters made me angry. Although I felt she was being painted in a bad light in her relationship.
June 2, 2023
Another Excellent Story
Another excellent story in the Harry McNeil series this time set a Inverness .He still has his team with him . An excellent story line and a sad ending. I read this book out of sequence and it helped make some of those I have read more clearer.Looking forward to reading more in the series.
Another excellent story in the Harry McNeil series this time set a Inverness .He still has his team with him . An excellent story line and a sad ending. I read this book out of sequence and it helped make some of those I have read more clearer.Looking forward to reading more in the series.
July 16, 2021
OMG! I can't get enough of Harry McNeil, I read this one in one sitting, I simply couldn't put it down! DSup Stewart has me laughing my head off, but...Oh, Alex! 😭 I hope Harry gets to deal with something a little less ..... traumatic for a while
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2021
I have enjoyed the Harry McNeil series but this one did get a bit confusing at times.
Please get rid of Calvin Stewart. His character adds nothing and detracts from the good effort you have put into Harry's character.
Please get rid of Calvin Stewart. His character adds nothing and detracts from the good effort you have put into Harry's character.
September 2, 2021
Flawed
The banter involving DSup Stewart was completely over the top and spoilt my enjoyment of what was otherwise an excellent book. Please kill of Stewart in the next Harry McNeil book, preferably on page 1.
The banter involving DSup Stewart was completely over the top and spoilt my enjoyment of what was otherwise an excellent book. Please kill of Stewart in the next Harry McNeil book, preferably on page 1.
October 30, 2021
Ruined by gratuitous swearing
A slight story that could have been so much better if the author has not been lazy by creating a distinctly foul character. The verbal sparring was definitely not in the slightest bit amusing.
A slight story that could have been so much better if the author has not been lazy by creating a distinctly foul character. The verbal sparring was definitely not in the slightest bit amusing.
December 5, 2021
Oh my days, the serial killer strikes again... But how?
In previous stories there had been a serial killer with links to old police men, including Harry McNeils father. There were still a lot of jigsaw pieces missing, and the killer or copycat struck again
In previous stories there had been a serial killer with links to old police men, including Harry McNeils father. There were still a lot of jigsaw pieces missing, and the killer or copycat struck again
December 28, 2025
Lose ends from an earlier case are solved....Inverness is the city the team is in this time, looking for the killer known as Nightmare...but all I can say is a few books back I called it. I just knew the writer would remove a main character.
July 17, 2021
Enjoyed this as always do with this series although I thought it ended rather abruptly
July 17, 2021
Awesome series
This series has kept me hooked from the first one. The characters are so believable and the storyline is great!
This series has kept me hooked from the first one. The characters are so believable and the storyline is great!
July 18, 2021
Another great book and thrilling story.
The banter is hilarious and generous, Dsup Stewart is a worthy addition to this team.
A shocking end.
The banter is hilarious and generous, Dsup Stewart is a worthy addition to this team.
A shocking end.
July 23, 2021
Dang! What a roller coaster. Great ending as to whom the original murderer was. Lots of hints dropped, but I didn't put it all together. Great fun!
August 3, 2021
Great read
This book was one of the best I’ve read in a while.
I enjoyed the plot twists and turns.
It was good to read about characters that were more real.
This book was one of the best I’ve read in a while.
I enjoyed the plot twists and turns.
It was good to read about characters that were more real.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews