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Anna Scavolini #1-3
The Anna Scavolini Mysteries, Volume One
Driven, fiercely opinionated and 5 ft 2 on a good day, criminology lecturer Anna Scavolini doesn’t go looking for trouble – but trouble has a way of finding her. Follow Anna as she turns detective and explores the darkest recesses of humanity in these three gripping Scottish crime mysteries from an author who ‘writes with precision and passion’ (Caro Ramsay) and ‘brings a fresh new voice to the field of Tartan Noir’ (James Oswald).
In the Silence
Anna hasn’t set foot in Glasgow for ten years – and she’s not short of reasons. On her first night back in town, she stumbles on an old flame, Andrew Foley, stabbed and bleeding to death on the snow-clad slopes of Kelvingrove Park. With the police making little headway, Anna begins her own investigation, unearthing a trail of long-buried secrets leading back to a crime committed over a decade ago – one so unspeakable its perpetrators are prepared to take their silence to the grave.
Shortlisted for the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize and longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize, 2019
Cruel Summer
Zoe Callahan, Anna’s oldest and closest friend, has more reasons than most to be haunted by the spectre of the Kelvingrove Park Murders from three years ago. So when her neighbour, a sex worker, is brutally assaulted by a rising political star, she leaps at the chance to occupy herself with a noble cause, vowing to bring the perpetrator to justice. Soon, she and Anna are once more drawn into a web of secrets and shocking revelations, with a heavy price to pay for all those involved – not least Zoe, who has far more to lose than she ever realised.
The Shadow Men
When a young police officer goes missing, a heavily pregnant Anna – his one-time university lecturer – reluctantly agrees to assist with the investigation. Zoe, meanwhile, has a mystery of her own to contend with, in the form of unsettling rumours involving her old school. No longer in close contact, the two old friends pursue their seemingly separate enquiries, unaware that their activities have reached the notice of the Shadow Men – a mysterious, all-powerful cabal whose very name strikes terror into the hearts of all who hear it.
In the Silence
Anna hasn’t set foot in Glasgow for ten years – and she’s not short of reasons. On her first night back in town, she stumbles on an old flame, Andrew Foley, stabbed and bleeding to death on the snow-clad slopes of Kelvingrove Park. With the police making little headway, Anna begins her own investigation, unearthing a trail of long-buried secrets leading back to a crime committed over a decade ago – one so unspeakable its perpetrators are prepared to take their silence to the grave.
Shortlisted for the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize and longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize, 2019
Cruel Summer
Zoe Callahan, Anna’s oldest and closest friend, has more reasons than most to be haunted by the spectre of the Kelvingrove Park Murders from three years ago. So when her neighbour, a sex worker, is brutally assaulted by a rising political star, she leaps at the chance to occupy herself with a noble cause, vowing to bring the perpetrator to justice. Soon, she and Anna are once more drawn into a web of secrets and shocking revelations, with a heavy price to pay for all those involved – not least Zoe, who has far more to lose than she ever realised.
The Shadow Men
When a young police officer goes missing, a heavily pregnant Anna – his one-time university lecturer – reluctantly agrees to assist with the investigation. Zoe, meanwhile, has a mystery of her own to contend with, in the form of unsettling rumours involving her old school. No longer in close contact, the two old friends pursue their seemingly separate enquiries, unaware that their activities have reached the notice of the Shadow Men – a mysterious, all-powerful cabal whose very name strikes terror into the hearts of all who hear it.
1228 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 17, 2021
110 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
M.R. Mackenzie
11 books67 followersTo get the latest news and your FREE sample chapters from the McIlvanney Prize-nominated In the Silence, join the M.R. Mackenzie Readers’ Club:
https://www.mrmackenzieauthor.com/rea...
M.R. Mackenzie is the author of several gritty, character-driven crime fiction novels set mainly in his native Glasgow, including an ongoing series of mysteries featuring criminology lecturer Anna Scavolini.
The first book in the series, In the Silence, was shortlisted for the Bloody Scotland Scottish Crime Debut of the Year and longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year 2019.
The sixth, The Secrets We Keep, featured in the Financial Times’ Best Summer Books of 2025 (Crime and Thrillers) and IngramSpark’s 2025 Editorial Selection (Mystery/Thriller).
PRAISE FOR M.R. MACKENZIE:
“One of the most consistently accomplished writers on the current scene.” — Financial Times
“Brings a fresh new voice to the field of Tartan Noir.” — James Oswald
“Writes with precision and passion.” — Caro Ramsay
“An immersive slow burn of a tale, peppered with disquieting fire-crackers of revelation.” — Gordon J. Brown
“Mackenzie has come up with something that defies easy definition and is truly original.” — NB Magazine
“Up there with the best contemporary authors working today.” — David B. Lyons
https://www.mrmackenzieauthor.com/rea...
M.R. Mackenzie is the author of several gritty, character-driven crime fiction novels set mainly in his native Glasgow, including an ongoing series of mysteries featuring criminology lecturer Anna Scavolini.
The first book in the series, In the Silence, was shortlisted for the Bloody Scotland Scottish Crime Debut of the Year and longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year 2019.
The sixth, The Secrets We Keep, featured in the Financial Times’ Best Summer Books of 2025 (Crime and Thrillers) and IngramSpark’s 2025 Editorial Selection (Mystery/Thriller).
PRAISE FOR M.R. MACKENZIE:
“One of the most consistently accomplished writers on the current scene.” — Financial Times
“Brings a fresh new voice to the field of Tartan Noir.” — James Oswald
“Writes with precision and passion.” — Caro Ramsay
“An immersive slow burn of a tale, peppered with disquieting fire-crackers of revelation.” — Gordon J. Brown
“Mackenzie has come up with something that defies easy definition and is truly original.” — NB Magazine
“Up there with the best contemporary authors working today.” — David B. Lyons
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 26, 2022
The first novel of the series, is a bit rough. The second is a great read, and the third, The Shadow Men really excellent.
I'll read others by Mackenzie, which is endorsement enough.
I'll read others by Mackenzie, which is endorsement enough.
April 14, 2022
A braw Weegie heroine
I love Dr Anna Scavolini and her friend Zoe Callahan. Anna is headstrong, opinionated and has a knack for getting herself embroiled in the most complicated situations and of course, being able to solve the crimes ahead of the police, to their dismay. She is not perfect: she copes with her bipolar disorder, while being a lecturer of Criminology at the University of Glasgow (my alma mater) and raising her son Jack. By the end of the trilogy things seem to have come full circle and Zoe -who used to receive Anna at her place while teenagers- is now living with Anna and Jack (just like they used to dream all those years ago). Zoe is the other side of Anna’s coin, the yin to her yang.
Michael has a beautiful prose and his fast paced stories are more alike to watching a film of the film noir kind than to reading a book. Glasgow is a major character in the stories and it’s descriptions are so good I could walk again through its streets and smell the spring on a “taps aff” afternoon at Kelvingrove Park.
No kilts or bagpipes on this trilogy, just Scotland in all its living beauty-warts and all. Highly recommended.
I love Dr Anna Scavolini and her friend Zoe Callahan. Anna is headstrong, opinionated and has a knack for getting herself embroiled in the most complicated situations and of course, being able to solve the crimes ahead of the police, to their dismay. She is not perfect: she copes with her bipolar disorder, while being a lecturer of Criminology at the University of Glasgow (my alma mater) and raising her son Jack. By the end of the trilogy things seem to have come full circle and Zoe -who used to receive Anna at her place while teenagers- is now living with Anna and Jack (just like they used to dream all those years ago). Zoe is the other side of Anna’s coin, the yin to her yang.
Michael has a beautiful prose and his fast paced stories are more alike to watching a film of the film noir kind than to reading a book. Glasgow is a major character in the stories and it’s descriptions are so good I could walk again through its streets and smell the spring on a “taps aff” afternoon at Kelvingrove Park.
No kilts or bagpipes on this trilogy, just Scotland in all its living beauty-warts and all. Highly recommended.
Read
June 12, 2022Really enjoyed this boxset of crime books. The two characters, Anna and Zoe, are like chalk and cheese in a lot of ways. They have been friends since school. They both have big hearts and get into all sorts of trouble mainly trying to do the right thing and help others. Well worth a read
April 21, 2024
brilliant
Fantastic three books all different stories and yet a theme running through them. Loved the characters excellent writing can’t wait for the next book.
Fantastic three books all different stories and yet a theme running through them. Loved the characters excellent writing can’t wait for the next book.
Read
September 14, 2025A good read the relationship between Zoe and Anna is a bit dark but enduring through time and troubles
December 4, 2025
Clever and intriguing
I gulped down the first three Anna Scavolini books in practically one sitting. They are so well written, cleverly plotted and Anna is a real, complex character.
I gulped down the first three Anna Scavolini books in practically one sitting. They are so well written, cleverly plotted and Anna is a real, complex character.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews