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Rebecca Connolly #4
Where Demons Hide
Something scared Nuala Flaherty to death. When her body is found in the centre of a pentagram on a lonely moor, Rebecca is determined to find out what. Was she killed by supernatural means, or is there a more down-to-earth explanation?
Rebecca’s investigation leads her to a mysterious cult and local drug dealings. But what she doesn’t know is that crime matriarch Mo Burke still has her in her crosshairs. Mo wants payback for the death of her son, and after one failed attempt to hurt Rebecca, she is upping the ante. And this time, it could be lethal.
Rebecca’s investigation leads her to a mysterious cult and local drug dealings. But what she doesn’t know is that crime matriarch Mo Burke still has her in her crosshairs. Mo wants payback for the death of her son, and after one failed attempt to hurt Rebecca, she is upping the ante. And this time, it could be lethal.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 7, 2022
26 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
About the author
Douglas Skelton
44 books144 followersDouglas has been a shelf stacker, bank clerk, tax officer, factory worker, advertising salesperson, taxi driver (for two days), wine waiter (for two hours), journalist and criminal investigator. His early books were all in true crime or criminal history but now he writes fiction, beginning with the Davie McCall series. The final book in the series, OPEN WOUNDS, has been longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize 2016, alongside such authors as Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, Lin Anderson, Doug Johnstone and James Oswald.
His next book is THE DEAD DON'T BOOGIE, which will kick off a new series.
His next book is THE DEAD DON'T BOOGIE, which will kick off a new series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
March 18, 2025
**Read 4.25 STARS!**
Let me start by saying that this action-packed crime thriller is the 4th volume of the hugely likeable "Rebecca Connolly" series.
The author's storytelling is wonderful, all characters are very believable and lifelike in their dealings with life, work, crime and death.
This crime novel starts off with the death/murder of Nuala Flaherty on Stoirm Island, and during the investigations resulting consequences will follow to reveal a certain individual of this killing.
At the same time there's the death threat towards Rebecca Connolly made by the criminal matriarch Mo Burke, and this threat will cause for former DS Bill Sawyer to come into action to protect Rebecca from serious harm.
While Rebecca Connolly herself is investigating the death of Nuala Flaherty from Inverness, and occasionally together with her News Agency's boss, Elspeth McTaggart, on Stoirm Island her friends Chaz Wymark and his partner in life Alan Shields are doing their bit to come up with the truth, before several strands on info will be gathered and follow through, resulting in certain actions taken by police towards the perpetrator of this killing, and from a master criminal from in Edinburgh by eliminating certain disposable human elements.
What is to follow as a whole is a fast-paced and engrossing crime novel, with plenty of human intercourse and a very adequate developed and executed plot in the end, all brought to us in a most accomplished fashion by the author.
Very much recommended, for this is an excellent addition to this remarkable series, and anyone who don't yet know Douglas Skelton now is the time to do so, that's why I like to call this latest episode: "An Engaging Devil's Touch"!
Let me start by saying that this action-packed crime thriller is the 4th volume of the hugely likeable "Rebecca Connolly" series.
The author's storytelling is wonderful, all characters are very believable and lifelike in their dealings with life, work, crime and death.
This crime novel starts off with the death/murder of Nuala Flaherty on Stoirm Island, and during the investigations resulting consequences will follow to reveal a certain individual of this killing.
At the same time there's the death threat towards Rebecca Connolly made by the criminal matriarch Mo Burke, and this threat will cause for former DS Bill Sawyer to come into action to protect Rebecca from serious harm.
While Rebecca Connolly herself is investigating the death of Nuala Flaherty from Inverness, and occasionally together with her News Agency's boss, Elspeth McTaggart, on Stoirm Island her friends Chaz Wymark and his partner in life Alan Shields are doing their bit to come up with the truth, before several strands on info will be gathered and follow through, resulting in certain actions taken by police towards the perpetrator of this killing, and from a master criminal from in Edinburgh by eliminating certain disposable human elements.
What is to follow as a whole is a fast-paced and engrossing crime novel, with plenty of human intercourse and a very adequate developed and executed plot in the end, all brought to us in a most accomplished fashion by the author.
Very much recommended, for this is an excellent addition to this remarkable series, and anyone who don't yet know Douglas Skelton now is the time to do so, that's why I like to call this latest episode: "An Engaging Devil's Touch"!
October 25, 2023
Real Rating: 4.5* of five, rounded up because it's delightful #Deathtober reading
The Publisher Says: Something scared Nuala Flaherty to death. When her body is found in the centre of a pentagram on a lonely moor, Rebecca is determined to find out what. Was she killed by supernatural means, or is there a more down-to-earth explanation?
Rebecca’s investigation leads her to a mysterious cult and local drug dealings. But what she doesn’t know is that crime matriarch Mo Burke still has her in her crosshairs. Mo wants payback for the death of her son, and after one failed attempt to hurt Rebecca, she is upping the ante. And this time, it could be lethal.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: Back to Stoirm Island go we all as Rebecca gets drawn into another strange, outlandish murder's resolution. The reason I like these stories is that they offer such weird ways for people to die...with very down-to-Earth explanations that fit consensus reality down to the ground. This being how I experience the world...whatever's got weirdness wrapped around it is being obfuscated by someone for some reason...I'm down for another trip.
Nuala's death was so OTT that the author's hand seemed tipped too far from the start. As her sad little life's ending proves, some people just have no luck in this world. The Children of the Dell are clearly a cult, and Nuala should've kept away. Cults are dangerous. Always. "Don't get near them" is the only advice you need about dealing with cults. Run away if they come for you, and never get into it with cultists, or Trouble will follow. This equally applies to Rebecca, of course; the difference is, she's responsible for ending the profitable cult-like existence of Mo Burke's family's drug-dealing cult of loyalties fiercely held. Not all religions need the supernatural to exist powerfully in their followers' hearts.
Rebecca, understandably, isn't going back to Stoirm to look into stuff...Chaz and Alan getting married there puts them into position to be her eyes and ears. These two are a delight! Rebecca's weird, unsettling past on Stoirm isn't going to keep these boys from doing the needed work for her; it's not going to cow them into inactivity, despite the spooky overtones to so many things; it's not going to prevent them from being their fun, funny, in-love selves as they help their friend fix the broken thread of a taken life in the world's tapestry.
No matter that there are explantions for what happened to Nuala, and what's behind the scene set to distract from her death; Author Skelton makes Rebecca and her catspaws work for every clue and struggle to make sense of the remorselessness of greed and jealousy that propel narcissists to act with cruelty and finality. Revenge? They think it's Justice. Being Right is an addiction to the narcissistic people of the world. Rebecca, and Elspeth, like being right for better reasons: Resolving evil deeds done by powerful and power-hungry narcissists. The two of them, having suffered at those hands they now do their best to tie up in handcuffs, pursue the benign factual-correctness face of Being Right. Their news-reporting business is dedicated to it. This is an agreeable dream to me, so I suspend my disbelief that independent news-gatherers in Inverness, Scotland, could do what they do without being squashed under lawsuits and calumnies and threats to their safety.
Fiction is a balm and a blessing for letting me have these fantasies of Ma'at being served so well. Douglas Skelton's talents for dialogue and character creation are, as expected, well used and effective throughout the read. The plot isn't without its issues. At times, Rebecca doesn't see things I've come to think she should until past the time they're obvious. This is usually handwaved away but it happens. Chaz and Alan are, as mentioned, very sweet togeher if just a touch overplayed. I don't mean as a gay couple...I mean as Rebecca's sleuths, at times, they seem to be taking their roles flippantly and playing up how cute they are. These are quibbles, not issues; the fact is that reasonable readers can and will read the same words I did and not see what I saw, so I'm not in any way downgrading the story.
What, as always with Author Skelton's stories, happens is clearly a result of Rebecca's, and Elspeth's, moral values: No matter what, who, or where they are, victimizers must be stopped and brought to punishment for their wrongdoing. Mystery series are always in service of ma'at. The Egyptian personification of Justice and balance and harmony and order and even law is the one whose remit includes protecting and aiding this kind of journalist/sleuth with a powerful moral compass. It makes the genre one I resonate with on a bone-deep level. Rebecca, and all the people she surrounds herself with, resonate to Justice's gonging vibrations. I love the way Author Skelton uses, sometimes almost too much and too often, the hints of something from the Beyond being on Rebecca's side. I believe there is a Rightess in the world that is tipped out of balance when someone is victimized. Finding, in Rebecca and her crew, others who have that feeling too makes these reads deeply satisfying.
This outing's no exception. The ending is very satisfying, and will leave my fellow series-loving readers happily anticipating more from Douglas Skelton.
The Publisher Says: Something scared Nuala Flaherty to death. When her body is found in the centre of a pentagram on a lonely moor, Rebecca is determined to find out what. Was she killed by supernatural means, or is there a more down-to-earth explanation?
Rebecca’s investigation leads her to a mysterious cult and local drug dealings. But what she doesn’t know is that crime matriarch Mo Burke still has her in her crosshairs. Mo wants payback for the death of her son, and after one failed attempt to hurt Rebecca, she is upping the ante. And this time, it could be lethal.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: Back to Stoirm Island go we all as Rebecca gets drawn into another strange, outlandish murder's resolution. The reason I like these stories is that they offer such weird ways for people to die...with very down-to-Earth explanations that fit consensus reality down to the ground. This being how I experience the world...whatever's got weirdness wrapped around it is being obfuscated by someone for some reason...I'm down for another trip.
Nuala's death was so OTT that the author's hand seemed tipped too far from the start. As her sad little life's ending proves, some people just have no luck in this world. The Children of the Dell are clearly a cult, and Nuala should've kept away. Cults are dangerous. Always. "Don't get near them" is the only advice you need about dealing with cults. Run away if they come for you, and never get into it with cultists, or Trouble will follow. This equally applies to Rebecca, of course; the difference is, she's responsible for ending the profitable cult-like existence of Mo Burke's family's drug-dealing cult of loyalties fiercely held. Not all religions need the supernatural to exist powerfully in their followers' hearts.
Rebecca, understandably, isn't going back to Stoirm to look into stuff...Chaz and Alan getting married there puts them into position to be her eyes and ears. These two are a delight! Rebecca's weird, unsettling past on Stoirm isn't going to keep these boys from doing the needed work for her; it's not going to cow them into inactivity, despite the spooky overtones to so many things; it's not going to prevent them from being their fun, funny, in-love selves as they help their friend fix the broken thread of a taken life in the world's tapestry.
No matter that there are explantions for what happened to Nuala, and what's behind the scene set to distract from her death; Author Skelton makes Rebecca and her catspaws work for every clue and struggle to make sense of the remorselessness of greed and jealousy that propel narcissists to act with cruelty and finality. Revenge? They think it's Justice. Being Right is an addiction to the narcissistic people of the world. Rebecca, and Elspeth, like being right for better reasons: Resolving evil deeds done by powerful and power-hungry narcissists. The two of them, having suffered at those hands they now do their best to tie up in handcuffs, pursue the benign factual-correctness face of Being Right. Their news-reporting business is dedicated to it. This is an agreeable dream to me, so I suspend my disbelief that independent news-gatherers in Inverness, Scotland, could do what they do without being squashed under lawsuits and calumnies and threats to their safety.
Fiction is a balm and a blessing for letting me have these fantasies of Ma'at being served so well. Douglas Skelton's talents for dialogue and character creation are, as expected, well used and effective throughout the read. The plot isn't without its issues. At times, Rebecca doesn't see things I've come to think she should until past the time they're obvious. This is usually handwaved away but it happens. Chaz and Alan are, as mentioned, very sweet togeher if just a touch overplayed. I don't mean as a gay couple...I mean as Rebecca's sleuths, at times, they seem to be taking their roles flippantly and playing up how cute they are. These are quibbles, not issues; the fact is that reasonable readers can and will read the same words I did and not see what I saw, so I'm not in any way downgrading the story.
What, as always with Author Skelton's stories, happens is clearly a result of Rebecca's, and Elspeth's, moral values: No matter what, who, or where they are, victimizers must be stopped and brought to punishment for their wrongdoing. Mystery series are always in service of ma'at. The Egyptian personification of Justice and balance and harmony and order and even law is the one whose remit includes protecting and aiding this kind of journalist/sleuth with a powerful moral compass. It makes the genre one I resonate with on a bone-deep level. Rebecca, and all the people she surrounds herself with, resonate to Justice's gonging vibrations. I love the way Author Skelton uses, sometimes almost too much and too often, the hints of something from the Beyond being on Rebecca's side. I believe there is a Rightess in the world that is tipped out of balance when someone is victimized. Finding, in Rebecca and her crew, others who have that feeling too makes these reads deeply satisfying.
This outing's no exception. The ending is very satisfying, and will leave my fellow series-loving readers happily anticipating more from Douglas Skelton.
September 12, 2023
Rebecca, Chaz and Alan investigate the death of a woman on Stoirm Island. She was encircled by a pentagram. Could a cult called Children of the Dell be responsible for her death? This was a very good story and I’m looking forward to reading more by Douglas Skelton. Thanks NetGalley and Skyhorse Publishing for this ARC that will be published October 17, 2023!
August 9, 2023
Oh gosh, this took me ages… and for some reason I don’t feel motivated to write complete reviews for the moment? Might be something temporary so no worries, I’ll come back to it haha.
I really loved this tho! I fall in love with these characters every day
I really loved this tho! I fall in love with these characters every day
November 20, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to review this book. I really enjoyed this book. This mystery story has a Scottish like background. I really enjoyed the Scottish slang, reminded me of how my great grandmother used to talk. The story was very well written. A real page turner that keeps you guessing. Lots of adventure and twists and turns throughout the book. The main character Rebecca is a journalist that gets involved into a murder investigation on the Scottish Isle near by where she lives. A cult like franchise seems to be a suspected interest with several deaths that occur through the story. All the while she's trying to get to the bottom of these murders someone in her past wants to kill her for the death of a family member that was not her fault. With help from close friends they solve the mystery but it does not end up at all like they thought it would. A very entertaining and amazing read that will keep you guessing. I highly recommend giving it a try.
July 16, 2022
I have read several of Douglas's books and loved them all. Where Demons Hide is the fourth book in the Rebecca Connolly series following Thunder Bay, The Blood is Still and A Rattle of Bones. As with any series, you might have a richer reading experience if you start at the beginning. Having said that, Where Demons Hide works perfectly as a standalone - everything you need to know is there, but not overdone for those coming to this from the previous books.
Rebecca Connolly is a young journalist based in Inverness working for a news agency, writing freelance pieces for local and national newspapers, magazines and TV companies. She's had it tough, as Skelton has fair put her through the wringer in the previous books, but things are calmer now and she's looking forward to her best friends' wedding. Trouble is, the wedding is on the island of Stoirm - pronounced 'Stirrum' - a place that holds bad memories for Rebecca, and possibly enemies too. A week before the wedding a woman is found dead in mysterious circumstances in the woods on Stoirm. Rebecca investigates from the mainland, ably assisted by Chaz and Alan on the island itself. But, unbeknownst to Rebecca, trouble is also brewing near to home...
The opening chapter is breathtaking, drawing the reader in immediately. It's dark, atmospheric and scary. I'm not sure I took a breath for the whole chapter as I became immersed in it, the woman's fear seeping through the pages, the nod to the supernatural and the dark arts. Very evocative.
The storyline is dark and troubling. Who are the mysterious Children of the Dell? Commune? Cult? Something else? And who is The Father, who only the chosen few have met? Delia has been happy with the Children for a good while, having given everything she had up to them when she joined, as was required. But now, a visitor to up the island has put doubts in her mind about it all...
Rebecca is fab. As mentioned above, things haven't been easy for her but she's still here. She's resilient, tenacious and determined. And always looking for a story. I adore Elspeth, Rebecca's boss. She has discovered her true sexuality in later life, doesn't give a stuff what she looks like or what she says. She doesn't really seem to have a filter. The final woman I must mention is Mo Burke, a woman broken and twisted by grief, who refuses to believe what deep down she knows to be true and, instead, turns her grief into hatred for Rebecca. And I also have to mention Seb - in whom, looks wise (only), Douglas has pretty much created my ideal man! After Jason Momoa, obviously.
There's always some humour in Douglas Skelton's work and there is plenty to be found here, more than in some of the previous books in the series. My favourite was 'He hadn't reached full drunkenness but he was definitely on the inebriation express.' And these humorous moments are very welcome between the more sinister ones. Douglas has once again used the wild beauty of the Scottish highlands and islands in his scene setting and it is often in these instances that so the story feels at its most foreboding. Conversely, some of the Inverness action happens in a pub, so well described, I know I wouldn't want to go in it!
For all its good humour and light touches, Where Demons Hide is a beautifully written tale of the worst of humanity, of grief, anger, hate, greed and desperation and will send a shiver down your spine more than once. Douglas Skelton is such a talented writer of crime fiction and I am delighted we've got more Rebecca to look forward to and excited for his first historical crime thriller, An Honourable Thief, coming in September.
Rebecca Connolly is a young journalist based in Inverness working for a news agency, writing freelance pieces for local and national newspapers, magazines and TV companies. She's had it tough, as Skelton has fair put her through the wringer in the previous books, but things are calmer now and she's looking forward to her best friends' wedding. Trouble is, the wedding is on the island of Stoirm - pronounced 'Stirrum' - a place that holds bad memories for Rebecca, and possibly enemies too. A week before the wedding a woman is found dead in mysterious circumstances in the woods on Stoirm. Rebecca investigates from the mainland, ably assisted by Chaz and Alan on the island itself. But, unbeknownst to Rebecca, trouble is also brewing near to home...
The opening chapter is breathtaking, drawing the reader in immediately. It's dark, atmospheric and scary. I'm not sure I took a breath for the whole chapter as I became immersed in it, the woman's fear seeping through the pages, the nod to the supernatural and the dark arts. Very evocative.
The storyline is dark and troubling. Who are the mysterious Children of the Dell? Commune? Cult? Something else? And who is The Father, who only the chosen few have met? Delia has been happy with the Children for a good while, having given everything she had up to them when she joined, as was required. But now, a visitor to up the island has put doubts in her mind about it all...
Rebecca is fab. As mentioned above, things haven't been easy for her but she's still here. She's resilient, tenacious and determined. And always looking for a story. I adore Elspeth, Rebecca's boss. She has discovered her true sexuality in later life, doesn't give a stuff what she looks like or what she says. She doesn't really seem to have a filter. The final woman I must mention is Mo Burke, a woman broken and twisted by grief, who refuses to believe what deep down she knows to be true and, instead, turns her grief into hatred for Rebecca. And I also have to mention Seb - in whom, looks wise (only), Douglas has pretty much created my ideal man! After Jason Momoa, obviously.
There's always some humour in Douglas Skelton's work and there is plenty to be found here, more than in some of the previous books in the series. My favourite was 'He hadn't reached full drunkenness but he was definitely on the inebriation express.' And these humorous moments are very welcome between the more sinister ones. Douglas has once again used the wild beauty of the Scottish highlands and islands in his scene setting and it is often in these instances that so the story feels at its most foreboding. Conversely, some of the Inverness action happens in a pub, so well described, I know I wouldn't want to go in it!
For all its good humour and light touches, Where Demons Hide is a beautifully written tale of the worst of humanity, of grief, anger, hate, greed and desperation and will send a shiver down your spine more than once. Douglas Skelton is such a talented writer of crime fiction and I am delighted we've got more Rebecca to look forward to and excited for his first historical crime thriller, An Honourable Thief, coming in September.
June 21, 2023
I got this book as an ARC copy on NetGalley. It didn’t state anywhere that it was a part of a series. I still have it a shot and was extremely confused by the book. I felt like every sentence was talking about something completely different. I didn’t finish the book. It was a DNF for me
August 15, 2022
My first Skelton book. It did not disappoint.
August 19, 2023
I couldn’t finish this. I found that by the time I got halfway through, it was really dragging and I just didn’t care about any of it. I’m really sorry but the narration (Sarah Barron) was dreary and didn’t assist the novel at all.
June 18, 2023
4 stars
A young woman is fleeing for her life. Her body is found lying in a self-drawn pentagram on the remote Scottish island of Stoirm. What frightened her so badly? Did she have an enemy?
Rebecca is a reporter for the local newspaper. She is very reluctant to return to the island due to some bad memories of the place. A key one is Mo Burke. A formidable woman, Mo believes that Rebecca is the cause of her son’s death. Her curiosity wins out. She is determined to learn who killed Nuala.
Besides, her two good friends, Chaz and Alan are set to marry on the island.
There are many suspects. There is a local cult, and drugs are a problem.
Mr. Skelton writes very well. His characters are interesting and well drawn. I liked the interaction between Chaz and Alan. The people in this book were likable (for the most part). The book moves along at a steady pace and reads quickly.
I want to thank NetGalley and Skyhorse Publishing/Arcade Crimewise for forwarding to me a copy of this very good book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.
A young woman is fleeing for her life. Her body is found lying in a self-drawn pentagram on the remote Scottish island of Stoirm. What frightened her so badly? Did she have an enemy?
Rebecca is a reporter for the local newspaper. She is very reluctant to return to the island due to some bad memories of the place. A key one is Mo Burke. A formidable woman, Mo believes that Rebecca is the cause of her son’s death. Her curiosity wins out. She is determined to learn who killed Nuala.
Besides, her two good friends, Chaz and Alan are set to marry on the island.
There are many suspects. There is a local cult, and drugs are a problem.
Mr. Skelton writes very well. His characters are interesting and well drawn. I liked the interaction between Chaz and Alan. The people in this book were likable (for the most part). The book moves along at a steady pace and reads quickly.
I want to thank NetGalley and Skyhorse Publishing/Arcade Crimewise for forwarding to me a copy of this very good book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.
August 2, 2022
Rebecca Connolly is an investigative journalist working for a small news agency in Inverness. She always has her eye out for a canny story, but this time she is not going to be the first one of her little circle to get the jump on a scoop.
Rebecca's friends Chazz and Alan are on the wild Scottish island of Stoirm to prepare for their wedding, and during their stay a visitor called Nuala Flaherty is found dead on the moors. Her cause of death is unknown, but rumours of supernatural goings on abound when it is discovered that Nuala's body was found in the centre of a hastily fashioned pentagram. Chazz, as Rebecca's news photographer, knows that there is a story here, so he and Alan plunge headlong into finding out what they can about the mystery, while Rebecca sets to work on the mainland.
What they discover opens whole can of worms around a strange cult on Stoirm, dodgy characters in the shadows, and links to organised crime. Meanwhile, Rebecca continues to be the target of vengeful crime boss Mo Burke's hatred, which puts her in very real danger, and she finds that things she has always considered 'hocus pocus' might hold real power after all.
I first came across the Rebecca Connolly books last year, in her previous excellent mystery A Rattle of Bones. I was hooked from the start, so could not wait to meet up with her and her friends (and enemies) once more in Douglas Skelton's latest twisty mystery Where Demons Hide.
This time the action splits quite evenly between Rebecca's side of the story on the Scottish mainland, as she plays Nancy Drew, and Chazz and Alan's Hardy Boys amateur sleuthing on Stoirm. Skelton brings in so many lovely elements on both sides of the story with beautifully contrived feelings of danger around every corner that make the absolute most of your worries for Rebecca's safety as she follows up her leads, and squeeze every ounce out of the wind and wuthering on Stoirm to whisper supernatural sweet nothings in your ears throughout. Unsettling notions of occult shenanigans, and dubious cults play ever so cleverly against the grittiness of the very real risk of harm from the criminal fraternity. Rebecca's own recent brush with the unexplainable also weaves throughout the story nicely, which has you questioning quite whether there is a solution to this mystery that involves real demons after all, as opposed to the monsters that lie within - and her own history with Stoirm adds an extra bit of frisson to the proceedings.
Skelton brings in themes of revenge, jealousy, secrets and lies, while throwing in some likely characters whose loyalties you are never quite sure of, and some you are certain you know have violent intent. As usual he gets you looking in completely the wrong direction most of the time, so he can floor you with a trademark twist or two at the end. You got me again Mr Skelton, and I adore being fooled by you!
I have to say that, as much as I enjoy spending time with Rebecca and appreciate her sense of humour, I loved how Chazz and Alan carry so much of this tale here: their bickering is a delight, and there were times when I found myself laughing out loud at their banter. It was also intriguing to see Rebecca opening herself up to the prospect of romance after all she has been through - I await developments in the next book.
Once again Sarah Barron does an excellent job with the narration, and after a while you become so immersed in the characters that you don't even notice they are voiced by the same person. This really is the best compliment I can pay to an audio book voice artist. Great job!
I absolutely loved this story from creepy start to heart-warming ending. I cannot wait to meet up with Rebecca and the gang once more!
Rebecca's friends Chazz and Alan are on the wild Scottish island of Stoirm to prepare for their wedding, and during their stay a visitor called Nuala Flaherty is found dead on the moors. Her cause of death is unknown, but rumours of supernatural goings on abound when it is discovered that Nuala's body was found in the centre of a hastily fashioned pentagram. Chazz, as Rebecca's news photographer, knows that there is a story here, so he and Alan plunge headlong into finding out what they can about the mystery, while Rebecca sets to work on the mainland.
What they discover opens whole can of worms around a strange cult on Stoirm, dodgy characters in the shadows, and links to organised crime. Meanwhile, Rebecca continues to be the target of vengeful crime boss Mo Burke's hatred, which puts her in very real danger, and she finds that things she has always considered 'hocus pocus' might hold real power after all.
I first came across the Rebecca Connolly books last year, in her previous excellent mystery A Rattle of Bones. I was hooked from the start, so could not wait to meet up with her and her friends (and enemies) once more in Douglas Skelton's latest twisty mystery Where Demons Hide.
This time the action splits quite evenly between Rebecca's side of the story on the Scottish mainland, as she plays Nancy Drew, and Chazz and Alan's Hardy Boys amateur sleuthing on Stoirm. Skelton brings in so many lovely elements on both sides of the story with beautifully contrived feelings of danger around every corner that make the absolute most of your worries for Rebecca's safety as she follows up her leads, and squeeze every ounce out of the wind and wuthering on Stoirm to whisper supernatural sweet nothings in your ears throughout. Unsettling notions of occult shenanigans, and dubious cults play ever so cleverly against the grittiness of the very real risk of harm from the criminal fraternity. Rebecca's own recent brush with the unexplainable also weaves throughout the story nicely, which has you questioning quite whether there is a solution to this mystery that involves real demons after all, as opposed to the monsters that lie within - and her own history with Stoirm adds an extra bit of frisson to the proceedings.
Skelton brings in themes of revenge, jealousy, secrets and lies, while throwing in some likely characters whose loyalties you are never quite sure of, and some you are certain you know have violent intent. As usual he gets you looking in completely the wrong direction most of the time, so he can floor you with a trademark twist or two at the end. You got me again Mr Skelton, and I adore being fooled by you!
I have to say that, as much as I enjoy spending time with Rebecca and appreciate her sense of humour, I loved how Chazz and Alan carry so much of this tale here: their bickering is a delight, and there were times when I found myself laughing out loud at their banter. It was also intriguing to see Rebecca opening herself up to the prospect of romance after all she has been through - I await developments in the next book.
Once again Sarah Barron does an excellent job with the narration, and after a while you become so immersed in the characters that you don't even notice they are voiced by the same person. This really is the best compliment I can pay to an audio book voice artist. Great job!
I absolutely loved this story from creepy start to heart-warming ending. I cannot wait to meet up with Rebecca and the gang once more!
February 5, 2023
I've really been enjoying this series, loving getting to know Rebecca and her colleagues, Elspeth and Chaz, and Where Demons Hide, is another class instalment. Atmospheric crime fiction with a touch of the otherworldly about it, as the team find themselves in the midst of a case involving rumours of Witches and Wiccan's and happenings altogether too strange to comprehend. From the very opening scenes you can feel the intrigue build, and I immediately wanted to know more about the who, what and why of it all. A tragic death once more troubles the fair folk of Stoirm, but was the cause of death natural or something far more sinister?
Well .... if you want to know the answer to that you'll have to read the book as I'm not telling you, but with strange markings around the scene of death, and the sense of urgency and near mania we are shown in what we assume to be the victim's final moments, it's fair to say this is not going to be a straightforward crime caper. Chaz and his betrothed, Alan, are on the island in preparation for their wedding, and with Chaz drafted in as makeshift crime scene photographer, it is no surprise that interests are piqued. I loved the way in which Douglas Skelton has portrayed this part of the story, with mystery abound and a slightly off kilter part of the community making it very hard to pinpoint a single potential suspect if the death does end up being a touch hinky. It's a device which works well, causing ample misdirection and hiding the truth in plain sight, It might not be what you think. Or may it just is ...
As Rebecca is over on the mainland following up on her own stories of strange goings on, she is one step removed from the main investigation as we see it. It doesn't put her out of danger though, and with Mo Burke waiting in the wings for her version of justice, you know pretty much anything can happen. There is that constant sense of threat that feeds through all of the Inverness action, as well as its own touch of the unexplained. I enjoyed this element of the story, some of the characters who are introduced adding a good splash of humour and banter which kept the story lighter than it might well have been given our heroine has a very clear price placed on her head. And speaking of humour, Chaz and Alan are a dream pairing, the quips and back and forth between them causing many a laugh. Alan especially is a wicked character as he gets the bit between his teeth as amateur investigator.
The ending is packed with tension, the conclusion to the stories not quite what I was expecting but ultimately satisfying. It's fair to say that Rebecca, Chaz and the island Stoirm have quite a chequered and tumultuous history, and seeing it draw to a kind of conclusion here feels fitting. It felt throughout that all roads led back to Stoirm which, if you think about it, is quite a feat given it's an island only accessible by ferry ... Another brilliant case which kept me enthralled. So much action and detail in a story which unfurls over just four days. If you love the series, or even if you just love a really suspenseful mystery, it's definitely recommended.
Well .... if you want to know the answer to that you'll have to read the book as I'm not telling you, but with strange markings around the scene of death, and the sense of urgency and near mania we are shown in what we assume to be the victim's final moments, it's fair to say this is not going to be a straightforward crime caper. Chaz and his betrothed, Alan, are on the island in preparation for their wedding, and with Chaz drafted in as makeshift crime scene photographer, it is no surprise that interests are piqued. I loved the way in which Douglas Skelton has portrayed this part of the story, with mystery abound and a slightly off kilter part of the community making it very hard to pinpoint a single potential suspect if the death does end up being a touch hinky. It's a device which works well, causing ample misdirection and hiding the truth in plain sight, It might not be what you think. Or may it just is ...
As Rebecca is over on the mainland following up on her own stories of strange goings on, she is one step removed from the main investigation as we see it. It doesn't put her out of danger though, and with Mo Burke waiting in the wings for her version of justice, you know pretty much anything can happen. There is that constant sense of threat that feeds through all of the Inverness action, as well as its own touch of the unexplained. I enjoyed this element of the story, some of the characters who are introduced adding a good splash of humour and banter which kept the story lighter than it might well have been given our heroine has a very clear price placed on her head. And speaking of humour, Chaz and Alan are a dream pairing, the quips and back and forth between them causing many a laugh. Alan especially is a wicked character as he gets the bit between his teeth as amateur investigator.
The ending is packed with tension, the conclusion to the stories not quite what I was expecting but ultimately satisfying. It's fair to say that Rebecca, Chaz and the island Stoirm have quite a chequered and tumultuous history, and seeing it draw to a kind of conclusion here feels fitting. It felt throughout that all roads led back to Stoirm which, if you think about it, is quite a feat given it's an island only accessible by ferry ... Another brilliant case which kept me enthralled. So much action and detail in a story which unfurls over just four days. If you love the series, or even if you just love a really suspenseful mystery, it's definitely recommended.
July 25, 2022
I’m a big fan of this series which has a great protagonist in the form of agency journalist Rebecca Connolly whose instincts are generally good, even if her taste in boyfriends has previously proved to be a bit suspect.
In the 4th book, Rebecca returns once more to Stoirm, the fictional island which was the setting for the first book in this series, Thunder Bay.
Rebecca is heading back to Stoirm for the wedding of two close friends, Chas and Alan; a wedding which is proving a touch controversial. Stoirm is not a big island and it doesn’t draw many visitors. Its inhabitants tend to be a little insular and it holds its secrets close. It’s an island steeped in atmosphere with a history shrouded in dark deeds and a sometimes tempestuous climate.
Chaz Wymark is a freelance photographer and he and Rebecca have worked together, forming a strong friendship. And it is Chaz who is on the scene when the body of a woman is found in the centre of a pentagram on the moors. Nuala Flaherty was renting a cottage and there’s a touch of the supernatural about her death.
Stoirm is home to the commune that is Sanctuary, belonging to a group called Children of the Dell. Delia has found Sanctuary there herself and enjoys the peace and calm and has had no real qualms about giving up the material world in order to live a simpler, more peaceful life. But Delia believes that there is something not quite right about Sanctuary’s business dealings and she feels it’s her duty to find out what that is.
Rebecca meanwhile is in Inverness. Leaving Chaz to do some rooting around on Nuala Flaherty, she is interviewing a woman whose uncanny intuition has been responsible for finding a young boy who went missing. Rebecca feels it’s all a bit ‘hocus pocus’ but the young woman is friendly and persuasive and seems to have some insight into Rebecca’s own situation. She warns Rebecca that there is anger surrounding her and to be careful.
What Rebecca doesn’t know is that Mo Burke, matriarch of a local crime family, is still nursing her wrath after the death of her son and there’s only one person she sees as responsible.
Douglas Skelton juggles his light and shade very well here. Sometimes dark and foreboding, this novel is also balanced by warmth, laughter and friendliness as we get to know our characters better and enjoy their badinage.
I really enjoy the way in which Douglas Skelton marries contemporary topics and criminal activity with a strong atmosphere and dark sense of foreboding coming from an island steeped in history and the bloody conflicts of the past.
Sarah Barron’s mellifluous narration is beautifully done. Her understated Highland lilt combined, on occasion, with some elongated vowels and her soft reading voice all come together to produce an enjoyable and thrilling listen.
Verdict: A nicely constructed and well-plotted tale with danger, malevolence, rage and an all-consuming desire to manipulate and exploit wherever money is to be made. Where Demons Hide combines the relevance of today’s criminal activities with themes of the past to produce a stunning crime thriller that grips the imagination and keeps you listening through to the very end. Highly recommended.
In the 4th book, Rebecca returns once more to Stoirm, the fictional island which was the setting for the first book in this series, Thunder Bay.
Rebecca is heading back to Stoirm for the wedding of two close friends, Chas and Alan; a wedding which is proving a touch controversial. Stoirm is not a big island and it doesn’t draw many visitors. Its inhabitants tend to be a little insular and it holds its secrets close. It’s an island steeped in atmosphere with a history shrouded in dark deeds and a sometimes tempestuous climate.
Chaz Wymark is a freelance photographer and he and Rebecca have worked together, forming a strong friendship. And it is Chaz who is on the scene when the body of a woman is found in the centre of a pentagram on the moors. Nuala Flaherty was renting a cottage and there’s a touch of the supernatural about her death.
Stoirm is home to the commune that is Sanctuary, belonging to a group called Children of the Dell. Delia has found Sanctuary there herself and enjoys the peace and calm and has had no real qualms about giving up the material world in order to live a simpler, more peaceful life. But Delia believes that there is something not quite right about Sanctuary’s business dealings and she feels it’s her duty to find out what that is.
Rebecca meanwhile is in Inverness. Leaving Chaz to do some rooting around on Nuala Flaherty, she is interviewing a woman whose uncanny intuition has been responsible for finding a young boy who went missing. Rebecca feels it’s all a bit ‘hocus pocus’ but the young woman is friendly and persuasive and seems to have some insight into Rebecca’s own situation. She warns Rebecca that there is anger surrounding her and to be careful.
What Rebecca doesn’t know is that Mo Burke, matriarch of a local crime family, is still nursing her wrath after the death of her son and there’s only one person she sees as responsible.
Douglas Skelton juggles his light and shade very well here. Sometimes dark and foreboding, this novel is also balanced by warmth, laughter and friendliness as we get to know our characters better and enjoy their badinage.
I really enjoy the way in which Douglas Skelton marries contemporary topics and criminal activity with a strong atmosphere and dark sense of foreboding coming from an island steeped in history and the bloody conflicts of the past.
Sarah Barron’s mellifluous narration is beautifully done. Her understated Highland lilt combined, on occasion, with some elongated vowels and her soft reading voice all come together to produce an enjoyable and thrilling listen.
Verdict: A nicely constructed and well-plotted tale with danger, malevolence, rage and an all-consuming desire to manipulate and exploit wherever money is to be made. Where Demons Hide combines the relevance of today’s criminal activities with themes of the past to produce a stunning crime thriller that grips the imagination and keeps you listening through to the very end. Highly recommended.
October 30, 2022
Where Demons Hide is the fourth book in the Rebecca Connolly series and we find her heading back to Stoirm for her friends Chas and Alan’s wedding but thanks to Chas she is also investigating the mysterious death of a young woman. If that isn’t enough someone is out to do her harm as they still blame her for past events and can’t let go of their grief.
As always Douglas Skelton gives you an opening chapter that not only sets the tone for the rest of the book but also has the reader instantly gripped and wanting to know more. There is certainly a feel of desperation and fear that has you wondering just who or what she is running from. What you do know is that no matter what she will not survive the night.
Rebecca is still finding it hard to trust relationships, but she does have a group of people she can always turn to including her no nonsense boss Elspeth. She may come across as hard, but you can tell that in her own way she cares what happens to Rebecca and wants her to be happy in and out of work. Chaz and Alan are a hoot when they are together, and you can see why their relationship works and that they think a lot of Rebecca and will do anything to help her get her story, often putting themselves in harms way.
As Rebecca digs into this story, links to past investigations are revealed and doubt is cast on the validity of the retreat that the victim had been staying in. On the surface it all looked above board but as one of the other residents starts to doubt the truth about it, its darker side is revealed and others find themselves in danger from what they learn
I liked the fact that Mo Burke is back as I felt that the story between her and Rebecca was not over, and it is this strand of the book that intrigued me more when some shady characters start following Rebecca without her knowledge. What you don’t know until the end is if they are there to harm or protect her. There was something else with them that surprised me but also showed me that you shouldn’t always make snap judgements based on what you read…. There may just be a piece of information that is missing. This also goes for the ending as it was not what I thought it would be.
Where Demons Hide is a brilliant addition to the series that has everything you would want in a crime thriller with a touch of humour added and characters that you love to go back to and locations you would love to visit and I hope that we will get to meet up with Rebecca again soon
As always Douglas Skelton gives you an opening chapter that not only sets the tone for the rest of the book but also has the reader instantly gripped and wanting to know more. There is certainly a feel of desperation and fear that has you wondering just who or what she is running from. What you do know is that no matter what she will not survive the night.
Rebecca is still finding it hard to trust relationships, but she does have a group of people she can always turn to including her no nonsense boss Elspeth. She may come across as hard, but you can tell that in her own way she cares what happens to Rebecca and wants her to be happy in and out of work. Chaz and Alan are a hoot when they are together, and you can see why their relationship works and that they think a lot of Rebecca and will do anything to help her get her story, often putting themselves in harms way.
As Rebecca digs into this story, links to past investigations are revealed and doubt is cast on the validity of the retreat that the victim had been staying in. On the surface it all looked above board but as one of the other residents starts to doubt the truth about it, its darker side is revealed and others find themselves in danger from what they learn
I liked the fact that Mo Burke is back as I felt that the story between her and Rebecca was not over, and it is this strand of the book that intrigued me more when some shady characters start following Rebecca without her knowledge. What you don’t know until the end is if they are there to harm or protect her. There was something else with them that surprised me but also showed me that you shouldn’t always make snap judgements based on what you read…. There may just be a piece of information that is missing. This also goes for the ending as it was not what I thought it would be.
Where Demons Hide is a brilliant addition to the series that has everything you would want in a crime thriller with a touch of humour added and characters that you love to go back to and locations you would love to visit and I hope that we will get to meet up with Rebecca again soon
June 18, 2023
I would like to thank Netgalley and Skyhorse Publishing for a review copy of Where Demons Hide, the fourth novel to feature Inverness based investigative reporter Rebecca Connolly.
Nuala Flaherty is found dead in the middle of a pentagram she carved on a lonely moor on the island of Stroim. Rebecca is interested to find out more and it leads her to a newly established commune, The Children of the Dell. Commune or cult Rebecca isn’t sure, but she knows there’s something off about it. Meanwhile, local gangster Mo Burke blames Rebecca for the death of her son and wants revenge.
I thoroughly enjoyed Where Demons Hide, which is a masterclass in misdirection with nothing as it seems. I was very impressed by the way things turned out, none of which I was expecting. I did, however, struggle to concentrate at the beginning as the narrative switches from voice to voice and it was hard to build a story in my mind. Once I got a clearer picture I couldn’t put it down.
I don’t really know how to describe the novel without spoilers as there are so many strands and, as I said, a lot of misdirection. The bulk of the investigation on Stroim is carried out by Rebecca’s friends, Chaz and Alan who are there to get married. They are funny and made me chortle on a regular basis. Rebecca is more serious so she’s handling the research and worrying about her love life. In amongst all this there are hints of psychic events, a couple of guns for hire and a protector in the form of former DS Sawyer, a man unafraid to take the law into his own hands if the situation requires it.
Where Demons Hide is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
Nuala Flaherty is found dead in the middle of a pentagram she carved on a lonely moor on the island of Stroim. Rebecca is interested to find out more and it leads her to a newly established commune, The Children of the Dell. Commune or cult Rebecca isn’t sure, but she knows there’s something off about it. Meanwhile, local gangster Mo Burke blames Rebecca for the death of her son and wants revenge.
I thoroughly enjoyed Where Demons Hide, which is a masterclass in misdirection with nothing as it seems. I was very impressed by the way things turned out, none of which I was expecting. I did, however, struggle to concentrate at the beginning as the narrative switches from voice to voice and it was hard to build a story in my mind. Once I got a clearer picture I couldn’t put it down.
I don’t really know how to describe the novel without spoilers as there are so many strands and, as I said, a lot of misdirection. The bulk of the investigation on Stroim is carried out by Rebecca’s friends, Chaz and Alan who are there to get married. They are funny and made me chortle on a regular basis. Rebecca is more serious so she’s handling the research and worrying about her love life. In amongst all this there are hints of psychic events, a couple of guns for hire and a protector in the form of former DS Sawyer, a man unafraid to take the law into his own hands if the situation requires it.
Where Demons Hide is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
August 5, 2022
I adore discovering a new crime series/crime author so I was excited to take part in the audio tour for this book as Douglas Skelton is a new author to me. I was not disappointed and cannot wait to read more by this author. Despite being the 4th book in a series, Where Demons Hide works really well as a stand-alone however I do feel like I would gain a better oversight of the characters if I read the rest of the series too.
It's evident that investigative journalist, Rebecca Connolly, has really been through the wringer in this series and things are finally seeming calmer until there’s a murder in the same place her best friends (Chaz and Alan) are about to married. She’s a great characters with a lot of determination and really strong instincts. I also enjoyed the way that her friends Chaz and Alan also investigated different aspects and how they worked together.
The opening really grabbed my attention and I could feel the panic and desperation in the young lady. It was such a gripping opening. I am personally fascinated and terrified by cults and the psychology behind them so I found the themes of this book and the investigation extremely interesting to follow. The plot was fast paced and really tense.
Using a Scottish narrator really gave this audio book a more authentic and atmospheric feel and I loved it. There were different voices for different characters and each character was really brought to life.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and cannot wait to read more of this series.
It's evident that investigative journalist, Rebecca Connolly, has really been through the wringer in this series and things are finally seeming calmer until there’s a murder in the same place her best friends (Chaz and Alan) are about to married. She’s a great characters with a lot of determination and really strong instincts. I also enjoyed the way that her friends Chaz and Alan also investigated different aspects and how they worked together.
The opening really grabbed my attention and I could feel the panic and desperation in the young lady. It was such a gripping opening. I am personally fascinated and terrified by cults and the psychology behind them so I found the themes of this book and the investigation extremely interesting to follow. The plot was fast paced and really tense.
Using a Scottish narrator really gave this audio book a more authentic and atmospheric feel and I loved it. There were different voices for different characters and each character was really brought to life.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and cannot wait to read more of this series.
July 27, 2023
A death with supernatural overtones pulls independent journalist Rebecca Connelly back to the island of Stoirm. Despite some misgivings and warnings from an old friend, she’s to attend the wedding of Chaz Wymark to his partner Alan. How can Rebecca ignore the body of a woman found dead inside a hand drawn pentagram and a cult called Children of the Dell? She’s especially intrigued because she is researching an article on a local psychic. What the psychic doesn’t tell her is that she is in imminent danger from Mo Burke, crime family matriarch, and that danger is already on Stoirm.
Douglas Skelton delivers another well plotted, character driven, atmospheric mystery in Where Demons Hide. Although Stoirm, Inchferry and Pittencairn are not real, these locations are so well described that you can see the moors and smell the water. The Rebecca Connelly series is not to be missed! 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Skyhorse Publishing and Douglas Skelton for this ARC.
Douglas Skelton delivers another well plotted, character driven, atmospheric mystery in Where Demons Hide. Although Stoirm, Inchferry and Pittencairn are not real, these locations are so well described that you can see the moors and smell the water. The Rebecca Connelly series is not to be missed! 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Skyhorse Publishing and Douglas Skelton for this ARC.
June 14, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and Skyhorse Publishing for the eARC.
This is a terrific read, I love this series!
Rebecca is going back to the isle of Stoirm even though she's reluctant, but her good friends Chaz and Allen are getting married and she wants to attend the wedding.
A terrified woman flees from a cottage like the hounds of hell are after her and is found dead in the morning. Rebecca, always looking for a story, investigates the death as well as what looks like a cult on the island. Plus, unbeknownst to her, someone is determined to do her serious harm...
I gobbled this book up in 2 days, loved it and highly recommend it!
This is a terrific read, I love this series!
Rebecca is going back to the isle of Stoirm even though she's reluctant, but her good friends Chaz and Allen are getting married and she wants to attend the wedding.
A terrified woman flees from a cottage like the hounds of hell are after her and is found dead in the morning. Rebecca, always looking for a story, investigates the death as well as what looks like a cult on the island. Plus, unbeknownst to her, someone is determined to do her serious harm...
I gobbled this book up in 2 days, loved it and highly recommend it!
July 3, 2023
A Gritty Crime Thriller
This is A gritty crime thriller, and it has a plot that is packed with twists and turns. The book is well written and full of action, and surprises. It is full of Dark humour and is a fast-paced book which is Set on the remote island of Stoirm in the Hebrides as a terrified woman is running for her life from an unseen enemy. The book goes from strength to strength as There is a psychic, Russian gangsters and two hired killers plus There is a twist at the end. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily .
This is A gritty crime thriller, and it has a plot that is packed with twists and turns. The book is well written and full of action, and surprises. It is full of Dark humour and is a fast-paced book which is Set on the remote island of Stoirm in the Hebrides as a terrified woman is running for her life from an unseen enemy. The book goes from strength to strength as There is a psychic, Russian gangsters and two hired killers plus There is a twist at the end. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily .
November 30, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyed this as I have the whole series so far. Alan and Chaz, Rebecca's photographer, are more involved this time as they return to the Island of Stoirm, off the coast of Scotland, to prepare for their wedding and become involved in investigating a death there. Mo Burke raises her head again and Rebecca could be in danger. The story is a great one, involving a cult and a refuge for those with money. Characters are very likeable and I have enjoyed watching them develop over the course of this series. Can't wait for the next one
July 14, 2022
The fourth instalment in the Rebecca Connolly series from Douglas Skelton, Where Demons Hide, opens on the fictional island of Stoirm, with a woman running for her life. Meanwhile, reporter Rebecca Connolly is in Inverness, planning a return to the island for the wedding of her friends Chaz and Alan, who are already in situ, where the local cops have found the body of a woman on the moors in strange surroundings. She is Nuala Flaherty, weird and slightly witch-y, who has been renting a cottage on the island for some months.
Elsewhere on Stoirm is Delia, who came to join Children of the Dell in its Sanctuary – in essence, it's a cult. She has recently been warned there is something rotten at the heart of Sanctuary, and intends to do a little sleuthing.
Rebecca has assignments to complete before her island trip, but still finds time to chase some puzzling details Chaz and Alan find while nosing around the edges of the police investigation into Nuala’s death. Our intrepid reporter also has her own problems, including Mo Burke, crime family matriarch who blames Rebecca for her woes, and is genuinely chilling in her rage.
Stoirm’s small community way of life is sharply drawn: long memories and strong ties; secrets can be held for generations but gossip spreads lightning-fast; varying attitudes to those deemed outsiders. But amid the dark moments there is plenty of humour, especially in the easy, teasing banter between friends and lovers. Compelling characters and realistic relationships of all kinds are central to the success of this series – and here, relationships of all kinds are eventually revealed to be linked to why Nuala was killed. Where Demons Hide? Where they hide so often is in plain sight, behind a mask of humanity.
There were times I was frustrated rather than in suspense as Skelton shifted between the many strands of the story, and I was surprised that despite the occult theme, there was no link back to, say, historical witch trials, in a series that has used made impressive use of Scotland’s history and myths previously. But these are minor niggles. Where Demons Hide is a page-turning novel in a fine series showcasing Scotland that is going from strength to strength.
Elsewhere on Stoirm is Delia, who came to join Children of the Dell in its Sanctuary – in essence, it's a cult. She has recently been warned there is something rotten at the heart of Sanctuary, and intends to do a little sleuthing.
Rebecca has assignments to complete before her island trip, but still finds time to chase some puzzling details Chaz and Alan find while nosing around the edges of the police investigation into Nuala’s death. Our intrepid reporter also has her own problems, including Mo Burke, crime family matriarch who blames Rebecca for her woes, and is genuinely chilling in her rage.
Stoirm’s small community way of life is sharply drawn: long memories and strong ties; secrets can be held for generations but gossip spreads lightning-fast; varying attitudes to those deemed outsiders. But amid the dark moments there is plenty of humour, especially in the easy, teasing banter between friends and lovers. Compelling characters and realistic relationships of all kinds are central to the success of this series – and here, relationships of all kinds are eventually revealed to be linked to why Nuala was killed. Where Demons Hide? Where they hide so often is in plain sight, behind a mask of humanity.
There were times I was frustrated rather than in suspense as Skelton shifted between the many strands of the story, and I was surprised that despite the occult theme, there was no link back to, say, historical witch trials, in a series that has used made impressive use of Scotland’s history and myths previously. But these are minor niggles. Where Demons Hide is a page-turning novel in a fine series showcasing Scotland that is going from strength to strength.
January 21, 2023
Book 4 of 2023 and coincidentally this is book 4 of the Rebecca Connolly series. It's a absolute fabulous book, full of twists and turns. We've got murder, journalists, ex-police, serving police, gangsters, a cult, and some witchy stuff all that along with island hopping and mainland crossings.
Thank you so much for the signed copy of your book Douglas and for using my name. 😁
A fabulous 5 🌟 read. Highly
Thank you so much for the signed copy of your book Douglas and for using my name. 😁
A fabulous 5 🌟 read. Highly
June 29, 2023
*ARC FROM NETGALLEY*
There wasn’t a bit of this solid, Scottish Highlands mystery/crime thriller that I didn’t enjoy!
There were several twisty things that came together at the end that I didn’t see coming!
Will definitely read more from this author.
“…There are many things here that I cannot explain…‘Do they need to be explained? Can you not simply put them down to things being what they are, without having to rationalise?’”
There wasn’t a bit of this solid, Scottish Highlands mystery/crime thriller that I didn’t enjoy!
There were several twisty things that came together at the end that I didn’t see coming!
Will definitely read more from this author.
“…There are many things here that I cannot explain…‘Do they need to be explained? Can you not simply put them down to things being what they are, without having to rationalise?’”
July 12, 2023
I've recently discovered Douglas Skelton books and this is my first Rebecca Connelly. I always prefer to read a series from the start but to be honest this was well written and I don't feel like I was missing any part of the story. That being said I will now go and read the first three books.
This is a great thriller, the first chapter had me hooked and again great humour from Skelton. Recommend.
Thank you to netgalley for my copy and allowing me to write an honest review.
This is a great thriller, the first chapter had me hooked and again great humour from Skelton. Recommend.
Thank you to netgalley for my copy and allowing me to write an honest review.
November 2, 2023
I love Douglas Skelton's stories because they're always on that grey are where thing can caused by paranormal causes or there's a more earthly reason.
This is my favorite as it's so borderline that you wonder how the author will solve it.
REbecca is a strong character as usual and the tightly knitted plot kept me hooked and guessing.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
This is my favorite as it's so borderline that you wonder how the author will solve it.
REbecca is a strong character as usual and the tightly knitted plot kept me hooked and guessing.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
July 20, 2022
If you have not read a Rebecca Connolly thriller, this is as good a place to start as any. So, let me introduce you to the characters (because I have no intention of telling you very much about the plot). There is Rebecca Connolly herself, who is an investigative journalist, and who is in an undetermined relationship with Stephen, a lawyer. Rebecca reports to Elspeth McTaggart, her editor and has been interviewing a medium called Tabitha, who helped the Inverness police find a missing boy. The police officer in charge of this case was Detective Inspector Val Roach, who is an acquaintance of Rebecca, where their professional interests overlap. Tabitha warns Rebecca that she is in danger.
Meanwhile, on the Hebridean Island of Stoirm, Nuala Flaherty rushes out of her cottage in a blind panic, and is found dead lying in a pentagram surrounded by a circle. Nuala has been investigating a commune at a place called the Sanctuary, where Delia and Seb live. The commune is called the Children of the Dell. Dr Charles Wymark is called out to perform the initial inspection of the corpse by the local police, and he is driven to the site by his son Chaz, who is on the island for his forthcoming wedding to his fiancé, Alan. Chaz is Rebecca’s photographer. Rebecca will be a guest at the wedding
The local gangster, Darren Yates, is homophobic and has clashed with Chaz, Alan and Rebecca in the past. He has connections to Mo Burke, an Inverness gang leader, who hates Rebecca because Mo blames er for the death of her son, Nolan. Someone tells Cokey, a tout, that Mo Burke has plans to hurt Rebecca or worse, and he passes that information on to and he passes that on to a retired Detective Sergeant, Bill Sawyer. He knows and like Rebecca and determines that he will do his best to ensure that she does not come to any harm.
What you have to di is work out how all these people mesh together. There are also other questions. Who is Cynthia Danvers? And why is she on the island? What is the connection between the Children of the Dell and the Nicoladze Brothers, Russian Crimelords? Why are Mike and Pat, two professional killers, hovering around the fringes of the story?
In other words, what is going on. I suspect that you will not be able to guess, and that there will be many surprises in store for you.
Meanwhile, on the Hebridean Island of Stoirm, Nuala Flaherty rushes out of her cottage in a blind panic, and is found dead lying in a pentagram surrounded by a circle. Nuala has been investigating a commune at a place called the Sanctuary, where Delia and Seb live. The commune is called the Children of the Dell. Dr Charles Wymark is called out to perform the initial inspection of the corpse by the local police, and he is driven to the site by his son Chaz, who is on the island for his forthcoming wedding to his fiancé, Alan. Chaz is Rebecca’s photographer. Rebecca will be a guest at the wedding
The local gangster, Darren Yates, is homophobic and has clashed with Chaz, Alan and Rebecca in the past. He has connections to Mo Burke, an Inverness gang leader, who hates Rebecca because Mo blames er for the death of her son, Nolan. Someone tells Cokey, a tout, that Mo Burke has plans to hurt Rebecca or worse, and he passes that information on to and he passes that on to a retired Detective Sergeant, Bill Sawyer. He knows and like Rebecca and determines that he will do his best to ensure that she does not come to any harm.
What you have to di is work out how all these people mesh together. There are also other questions. Who is Cynthia Danvers? And why is she on the island? What is the connection between the Children of the Dell and the Nicoladze Brothers, Russian Crimelords? Why are Mike and Pat, two professional killers, hovering around the fringes of the story?
In other words, what is going on. I suspect that you will not be able to guess, and that there will be many surprises in store for you.
August 9, 2023
I really enjoyed this book! I didn't expect the ending which was great. The characters are well developed and the story moved at a good pace. 10/10 and a reccomendation. I will definitely be checking out more books by Douglas Skelton in the future! Special Thank You to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 15, 2023
Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of Where Demons Hide by Douglas Skelton in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book and found myself giggling throughout it. I didn't realize it was the 4th in the series, but was able to follow along just fine. I loved the characters and want to go back and read the previous books.
December 15, 2023
Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of Where Demons Hide by Douglas Skelton in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book and found myself giggling throughout it. I didn't realize it was the 4th in the series, but was able to follow along just fine. I loved the characters and want to go back and read the previous books.
March 14, 2025
Wow! A brilliant read. I’ve grown to love these Rebecca Connolly stories and this book doesn’t disappoint. The characters have developed so much since the first book and feel like old friends when visiting them again in this outing. I really didn’t see the ending coming the way it did. Brilliant! Looking forward to the next in the series.
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