Until I Find You

by Anna Smith

This nail-biting Glasgow-set crime thriller introduces Billie Carlson, an ex-cop turned Private Investigator. Perfect for fans of Marnie Riches and Martina Cole.

WHEN YOU'VE LOST EVERYTHING, YOU'LL STOP AT NOTHING

Billie Carlson left the police force under a cloud. Once a promising young officer she now works as a private investigator, rooting out insurance scams and spying on cheating spouses.

One morning a distraught young woman comes into her office saying that her baby has been stolen. Her story seems unbelievable, yet something about her makes Billie want to help - Billie knows what it's like to lose someone too.

To get to the bottom of the case Billie must rattle some dangerous cages and rely on old police friends for inside help. Soon she discovers a network of crime deeper and far more twisted than she ever could have imagined. But is she in way over her head?

298 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 3, 2022

About the author

Anna Smith is an award-winning journalist who spent a lifetime in daily newspapers, reporting from the frontline all over the world. She has covered conflicts from Somalia to Rwanda to Kosovo, where she witnessed the plight of tragic refugees, genocide and hideous ethnic cleansing. She has also worked on major investigations, unmasking drug dealers and paedophiles, as well as reporting on the Dunblane Massacre, to 9/11, where she was one of the first journalists on the scene in both world shaking events.

She writes novels full time now, using her vast experience as a journalist to create the hugely popular Rosie Gilmour character, a gritty Glasgow journalist who tears down the walls of corruption and will stop at nothing to get her story. Anna lives between her homes in Scotland and the West of Ireland - and also in Spain to escape the British weather.

Her highly acclaimed debut novel, The Dead Won't Sleep, was the first in the series, exposing corruption and child abuse at the very top of the establishment, echoing real news stories that are being reported at the moment, even though the novel was published three years ago.

The second in the series is, To Tell The Truth, and takes Rosie on a terrifying investigation into the kidnapping of a three-year-old girl from a beach in Spain while on holiday with her parents. It's a fast paced story of people trafficking and
international child porn, and is set in Glasgow, Spain and Morocco.

Book three, is Screams In The Dark, is a harrowing tale of refugees going missing in Glasgow. When a torso is found floating in the River Clyde, Rosie is on the trail of international criminals from London to Belgrade and uncovers a network of evil. It's a story close to Anna's heart as she reported from Kosovo at the start of the war when stricken refugees were spilling across the border in their thousands.

Her fourth in the series, is Betrayed, where Rosie takes on the criminals in the Ulster Volunteer Force in Glasgow. It's a gripping story of cocaine smuggling, of divided loyalties, of love and regret, and ultimately of betrayal.

Her latest novel, A Cold Killing, takes Rosie on the dangerous trail of gun runners as she probes the murder of a retired Glasgow University lecturer. The deeper she digs, she finds that he has a dark past that leads all the way to MI6 and the KGB.

You can read more on www.quercusbooks.co.uk. And also on her Anna Smith Crime Author page on Facebook. Or on Twitter.

Reviews

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Billie Carson #1

Billie Carson left the police force under a cloud. Once a promising young officer, she now works as a private investigator, rooting out insurance scams and spying on cheating spouses. One morning a distraught young woman comes into her office saying that her baby had been stolen. Her story seems unbelievable, yet something about her makes Billie want to help - Billie knows what it's like to loose someone too. But to get to the bottom of this case Billie must rattle dome dangerous cases and rely on some old police friends for inside help.

This story is set in Glasgow. Even though herstory sounds unbelievable, private investigator Billie Carson takes on her case and ha to take on some very dangerous people along the way. This is a well written and thought out novel. This is one rollercoaster read I didn't want to put down. Billie is determined to get the woman's baby back and she will stop at nothing to achieve this. It's not always easy to read, but it's realistic. The story is full of action with lots of believable characters. I can't wait to read more books in this new series.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #QuercusBooks and the author #AnnaSmith for my ARC of #UntilIFindYou in exchange for an honest review.

[Tracy ann Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

i so love this authors book s and we have a new series readers are so going to love the new character Billie Carson she one sassy kick ass lady with a big heart. , Billie was once a police officer. she left the force and became a private investigator , then one day a women walks in to her office Jackie was in a car accident and someone stole her baby she cant go to the police for help Billie agrees to help her as this is close to her heart i do not want to say anymore but its one hell of a story this book has everything its so so good so cant wait for book 2

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

I really like this author’s books and was eager to read this one, the first in a new series featuring Billie Carlson, a Private Investigator. I did enjoy this book, and think the author has created a quite likeable character here who is very tenacious and has a troubled and believable back story. She takes on a case when a young woman comes into her office asking her to find her daughter. There are several ongoing story threads here which I really liked, plenty of action and all at a fairly fast pace. I thought this was a well written and engaging book with a good plot line. It just didn’t wow me though. Not sure if it is because I really liked the main characters in Anna Smiths other series and think it will take time for me to get used to a new character. I will definitely want to read the next book to see how Billies character develops.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great start, to hopefully a series. I want to read more of Billie's story . Set in Glasgow, Billie is a private investigator, who is an ex-detective. The reasons why she left the force are revealed gradually. The plot involves the underworld of the city, drugs, people trafficking , prostitution and making porn films. It is not always easy reading, but is realistic .
I very much liked Billie, a no nonsense character who has a past. She does not always think things through, but she has a good heart. The police are not always portrayed in the best light and you come to understand her reasoning, though it might not always be the safest option to go it alone or involve other members of the underworld.
The book is action packed with lots of characters, some incidents are resolved, others not . This is why I am hoping to read more !
Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a story and so different from Anna Smiths last series.In this book we meet Private Investigator Billie Carson who was a police woman but left on bad terms.When a young woman walks into Billie's office looking so lost and sad Billie knows this woman needs help and after listening to her story of a car crash and her stolen baby Billie agrees to help.I have to say this book is a rollercoaster of a gripping read and full of action but Billie Carson is determined to get the woman's baby back but did not have a clue how.I can't wait to read Anna Smiths next book Excellent book 5* Well done to Anna Smith.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

UNTIL I FIND YOU ANNA SMITH
Yet another belter of a crime novel by Anna Smith.
I am a huge fan of both the Rosie Gilmour and Kerry Casey series.
I was super excited to start this new series with PI Billie Carlson and it did not disappoint.
A brilliant well thought out novel set in the grim criminal world of Glasgow.
Billie Carlson is not your typical damaged heroine, like others before her she bends the rules but she is also living through her own nightmare. Her personal conflict meant to me, that this will be a series not a stand alone novel which is an added bonus!
If you haven’t read any of Anna Smiths books then this would be an excellent choice to start with.

[Paul Allard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Straight-forward detective thriller based in Glasgow - very good.

things get a lot more complicated involving all the many types of urban crime associated with a big city. There's a hefty body count, uneasy alliances and plenty to think about as it paints a depressing tale about the seedier side of life in Glasgow, There's a lot going one and it makes for a good read - and a quick one at that. I read it pretty quickly so it's certainly engaging. I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[deborah fanning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Billie Carlson ex cop now PI takes on a client Jackie who is involved with some of the worst people ever!
Jackies baby is kidnapped and Billie who has her own issues embarks upon a journey into the violent scum of the earth to find her. Billie uses her contacts in the police and underworld to facilitate this ! No spoilers However certain underworld characters appear to have more scruples and impact than the police! I enjoyed this book first one of this author I have read.

[Rohase Piercy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A real page-turner here from Anna Smith. Disgraced former cop turned private investigator Billie Carlson has a personal reason for wanting to find Jackie Foster's kidnapped toddler - her own baby, Lucas, was kidnapped by his father and taken to the States, and she has no idea where he is.
So even though there is no record of little Elana's birth and no evidence of her even having been in the car that Jackie crashed, and even though Jackie has withdrawn her police statement about her baby's kidnap, she's inclined to believe the distraught young woman who comes into her office pleading for help and insisting that her little girl is now in the hands of some very dangerous people who will stop at nothing to retrieve the video recordings they mistakenly believe to be in her possession.
The subsequent investigation leads Billie to some very dark places indeed - people trafficking, porn and snuff movies are all involved - and as she finds herself getting out of her depth she has no choice but to call in a few favours, both from ex-police colleagues and from the criminal underworld.
It's fast-paced, riveting stuff and the narrative style is lean and sparse whilst still conveying vivid emotion, anguish and grief. The first in a two-part series of Billie Carlson novels, with hopefully more to come!

[Bookstagramshaz Sharon Logue · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚 BOOK REVIEW 📚 Until I Find You By Anna Smith - Publication Date - 3rd Feb 2022

This is my first time reading one of Anna Smith’s books and certainly won’t be my last! Thriller/crime is what I love to read.

Billie is a PI who used to be a police officer. She takes on a case of a missing /snatched child but this act unravels a whole lot of other wrongdoings by Glasgow criminals of the area. We learn that Billie went through a similar trauma herself and we learn bits of her story as the book goes on and why Billie at times struggles with this case.

Billie stays in touch with couple of friends from the police officer but because of the cloud she left the force under - some of the senior police don’t like her interfering. Some of the quick comebacks from Billie to her old bosses are quite amusing!
Gritty read - loved it!! Well deserved 5 stars from me.

Thanks Netgalley for a copy of this ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

#netgalley #untiligibdyou #annasmith #querco #bookstagram #bookreview #bookstagramshaz #crimethriller

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by this author and I enjoyed it very much. The prologue made an intriguing and thrilling start. I don’t really know why but I couldn’t get it in to my head that the novel was set in Glasgow (I don’t know Glasgow at all, and after reading this book I don’t think I want to!). It felt very American to me for some reason, not that that matters. I wouldn’t call it fast paced, in fact there were parts where it seemed to drag on a bit with not much happening. Then it got complicated with different story lines, and I got a little bit lost and had to keep turning back the pages to so I could remember who was who and what was happening. I’m sure that’s just me though. The ending was brilliant. I really like the character of PI Billie Carlson, and obviously hope that this is the first of a series. We all want to know what happens to Lucas! All in all a good read, 3.5 stars upped to 4.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this ARC.

[Best Crime Books & More · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was devastated when Anna Smith's series featuring Rosie Gilmour finished, that was until she released her Kerry Casey books, and now I am thrilled to add another amazing character and series to my list of 'must read' books. This new series features Billie Carlson. Billie used to be a copper until her boy disappeared and her life changed. Now she is a private investigator and when a woman comes into her office saying her baby has been stolen it's a story that's too close to home to let go.


There is plenty of action in this book from the outset pretty much through until the end. There is plenty to the plot including drugs, people trafficking and murder to name a few. The only downside to a new series is that it takes me a while to catch onto the additional characters that will feature as the series progresses. I absolutely loved this book and devoured it in close to two sittings. I am even more thrilled to realise that the next installment is due out in under a year. Another belter of a book from Anna Smith and an author that I would highly recommend you try!

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Until I Find You by Anna Smith is the first book in the New Billie Carlson series and It was an excellent read! I loved it especially the new character Billie Carson she one lively, bold with a kick ass attitude lady with a big heart. She is brilliant!! Billie was once a police officer. she left the force and became a private investigator Billie takes on a complex case when a young woman comes into her office asking her to find her daughter who has been snatched from her. This book was full of great twists and turns throughout that had me hooked from the very first few pages. This new series started with a bang and was a cracking read!

I Highly recommend this book 5 Star book!

Big thank #NetGalley, Quercus Books and the author Anna Smith for my ARC of Until Find You in exchange for an honest review.

[Shanzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listen to this book on audible. It was a decent story but one of the things that I noticed was that the main character in every chapter remind you of the same past event over and over and over again. I don’t mind that kind of thing if there is new information or that kind of thing but this was just mentioning the event each time the same details and I didn’t feel like I needed to hear it constantly while reading. The story was about a former police detective now private investigator and while there was references to why she was a former police officer I probably would’ve enjoyed hearing more about that case and less about her personal past event. The current case was interesting though I think she has very bad luck.

[Lovetoread2023 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Billie Carson is a former police officer who left under a cloud,now a private investigator.
When a young distraught woman walks in to her office saying her baby has been taken,even though her story is unbelievable something makes Billie want to help her as she knows what it's like to lose someone you love dearly.
To get to the bottom of the case Billie has to deal with some very dangerous individuals and what she finds out shocks her to her core.
Hard hitting and very hard to put down.
Can not wait to find out more about Billie and hoping she gets her happy everafter.
Thanks to Netgalley and Quercus Books for the ARC

[Sue Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this gripping novel

my first by this author but it wont be my last

a fast paced gritty storyline that grabs you from the first page right till the very last page and even then you are left wanting more

billie an ex cop now private investigate takes on jackie, a woman who claims her baby was abducted, but there are doubts as to whether she is telling the truth or not

oh my word i was enthralled by the first page, pulled in and what a ride this book gave...love love how this author writes and cant wait for the next book from this author

[Chromatic Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mix a don’t mess with me girl ex cop now private eye Billie Carlson , with Glaswegian gangsters, people trafficking, snuff films, bent coppers, baby snatching and you have the recipe for a great read, violent, fast paced, you won’t want to put it down. Billie also has her own sad story she cannot come to terms with, as she tries to help a prostitute get her baby back, she knows it almost mirrors her own life, she is still searching for her own child who was snatched and taken to the States.
You cannot go wrong with an Anna Smith thriller, I have read nearly all of them and each one has been a page turner.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic start to a new series with PI billie carlson, i wasnt sure what to expect but as i have loved all her other books, i was confident i would like it, hell yes i most certainly did. Billie was in the police when circumstances removed her from the force, she set up a pi business when a case comes in from a woman who claims THEY have taken her daughter after they ran her off the road, this hits too close to home as billies husband bob took lucas their son 1 day and she hasnt seen him since........what a page turner, utterley brilliant

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cracking new characters and story.

Billie Carlson an ex-police woman is now a Private Investigator. She is hired by a woman that comes into her office asking for her help she tells her story to Billie about a car crash and her missing baby.

Set in Glasgow this book has thrill after thrill. The book leads us into prostitution and porn filmmaking. This hard-hitting no-nonsense book takes us into a crime world that will make you gasp, very well written and fast-paced I loved it and only hope there will be a second book to follow.

[Linda Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Set in Glasgow, Billie Carlson is an ex police officer turned private investigator. When a young woman turns up at her office one day saying that her young child has been taken, Billie feels compelled to help her. However, she is soon embroiled in the seedy world of drugs, trafficking and porn, and has to call in some favours from the past. This is a fast paced story that will keep you on the edge of your seat to the end. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.

[Martha Brindley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy works by this author and I am delighted to meet a new character. Billie is an ex police officer and now a private investigator. She is smart, tough and full of determination. I loved the characterisation and the Glasgow setting, with a plot filled with drama and tension. The plot was believable and moved at a fast pace centred around the Glasgow criminal fraternity. It's a 5* solid read and I would highly recommend it. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

[Gemma Deary · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a while since I read an Anna Smith book and I'd almost forgotten how good she is!!This is a brilliant book to what seems to be a fantastic new series. The story is about Billie, an ex cop now private detective that takes on the case of a kidnapped child. Fast paced and a great story line with a cracking end that leaves the story wide open for the next installment. Can't wait to read the next book.

[Stephanie Pawsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Billie is an ex cop and now a private Investigator. She rakes on a job for Jackie while baby has been kidnapped by Ruthless villains. It unravels that not only are they kidnappers they're also involved in porn, drugs and snuff films and they think Jackie has something of theirs. Billie gets into all sorts of trouble trying to get Jackie's baby back and has to draft in help from equally naughty villains. This book has plenty of action and was a great read!

[Miriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite having some of the author’s other books on my kindle, this is the first one I have read and what a book to start with, if I had known how good it was going to be, I would have waited for the weekend to be able to keep reading without any distractions, the most positive thing about being late to the party with the books is that I don’t have to wait for the next in series. Definitely a 5 star read for me.

[Iain Mccartney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having taken to the exploits of Rosie Gilmour some time ago, this latest offering from Anna Smith introduced me to a new female who walked the dark and grim streets of Glasgow and adding yet another ‘must follow’ character to the list.
A fast moving story, as city life often is, Anna Smith is up there with the best of Scottish crime fiction writers.
Recommend reading.

[Sue Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Until I find you by Anna Smith.
Billie Carlson Book 1.
Jackie has been in a car accident. She says her baby is missing. She finds Billie and asks her for help. Can Billie help find her baby?
Omg a brilliant read. I loved Billie character. I can see I'm going to love this series. Can't wait for the next book. 5*.

[gaynor rawlings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

Billie left the police force to become a pi. Jackie went to Billie to help trace her baby daughter who was kidnapped when she was run of the road. She put herself in danger so many times.She is also trying to find her own little boy which her ex husband have taken to America

[Melanie Hodges · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, if Anna Smith wrote a dictionary, she’d make it thrilling!! To date, I’ve read each and every one of her books and I’ve loved them all.
I’m hoping this new book is the start of a new series, because I’m bursting to know what’s in store next for Billie Carson.
This is what’s known as a page turner, once I started it was all I could think of.

[Carol Mageean · Rating 2 out of 5]

Firstly thank you to Net Halley for granting me this book in exchange of an honest review. New author to me and although I enjoyed the style of writing after a few chapters gave up mainly because it was so far fetched in the fact that the main character was an ex cop but had so many contacts in the force that enabled her to gain inside information . Not for me I’m afraid

[Sue Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Until I find you by Anna Smith.
WHEN YOU'VE LOST EVERYTHING, YOU'LL STOP AT NOTHING
Billie Carlson left the police force under a cloud. Once a promising young officer she now works as a private investigator, rooting out insurance scams and spying on cheating spouses.
Brilliant read. Great story and characters. 5*.