The second book in this series featuring DI Clare McKay, and set in one of my favourite parts of Scotland. Marion Todd writes beautifully, and I look forward to reading more in this series.

A fantastic read
Would definitely recommend to others
The characters were fantastic 
The storyline was well thought out
Definitely worth a 4 star

This is the second book in the DI Clare Mackay series, and after reading the first book in the series, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one.  This book was even better than the first one, and makes the author of my new favourites.  Highly recommended.  
TB

The first novel that I read from this series and I was absolutely hooked.

The mystery of the baby gone in front of many people and her parents was interesting. There are also issues about DI Mckay that added spice to the story.

I was not happy though with the revelation of the kidnappers, it was shallow but I had a great time reading the story.

Thank you Canelo and Netgalley for the ARC!

DI Clare Mackay is back in the second book of this exciting Scottish police procedural series by Marion Todd, set in and around St Andrews. I enjoyed the first book "See Them Run" but I liked this one even more and having now finished it, I am looking forward to the third installment.

Clare Mackay has recently returned from a brief holiday in France and is attending a fun run with her DS, Chris West, one Sunday afternoon when she hears a scream in the crowd. All eyes turn to a young woman screaming that someone's taken her baby.

Lisa Matthews stands by an empty pram, her six month old daughter Abi has been abducted. Clare immediately organises a search and calls in for back-up but to no avail. The search is ramped up when it is revealed that baby Abi has congenital heart disease and needs specific medicine twice a day or she will die. The parents are frantic with worry, while the team follow leads and chase up suspects in the hope of finding Abi in time.

Added to Clare's workload is a young journalist who is to shadow her for "a day in the life of" kind of police and media relations thing. She has no time or patience to babysit someone who barely looks old enough to shave and delegates her more menial tasks for him to undertake...after all, she is also understaffed so she may as well utilise him. Then there is the entrance of DCI Tony McAvette, a definite thorn in Clare's side, whose primary concern is how solving this case will look on his CV when he submits his application for Superintendent. Never mind that he is there to supposedly head up the investigation yet he leaves all the work for Clare and her team to do while he intends to take the credit.

As the investigation delves deeper, the team uncover some questionable aspects concerning the parents. Are they hiding something? If so, what? Do they know more than they are letting on? Then two days after Abi's abduction, Lisa disappears and the team find themselves looking not only for Abi but her mother as well.

Then a witness comes forward with some information about the abduction which has Clare re-evaluating the direction of the investigation.

IN PLAIN SIGHT is a clever and well-plotted story that is so involved and often complex but completely engrossing from start to finish. I read this book in a day.

I love how Clare and her team are completely personable characters without the bitchiness and back-biting often seen in police procedurals. They are all likable and they have a camaraderie that make them work well together. The exception to this is, of course, the DCIs that are brought in with each case as Clare is just a DI and the investigation needs to be overseered by a DCI. Why doesn't Clare just get promoted to DCI so she had head her own investigations? lol

I also loved the return of Benjy, who I had to refresh my memory where he fit into things. But it was good to see him again and I look forward to seeing more of him!

A cracker of police procedural, IN PLAIN SIGHT follows on from the first book - though it can be read as a standalone - and is proof positive that the Clare Mackay series is one to watch.

An entertaining and captivating read, I have no hestitation in recommending IN PLAIN SIGHT to any fan of crime fiction and police procedurals.

I would like to thank #MarionTodd, #NetGalley and #Canelo for an ARC of #InPlainSight in exchange for an honest review.

Marion Todd layers her gripping crime thriller In Plain Sight with plenty of heart-racing suspense and hair-raising intrigue. Featuring the intrepid DI Clare Mackay, In Plain Sight is a compelling and page-turning police procedural set in Scotland that grabs readers’ attention from page one.

Fun runs are usually community events where the atmosphere is jovial and light-hearted and where everybody comes together for a good cause. But not this time. Things quickly go sour when a baby girl is snatched from a crowd of spectators. All eyes are on the local police who quickly realise that they have no time to waste if they want to find answers. The press and their community are on their case and they need them to find the missing baby as quickly as possible without dallying, mistakes or missteps. DI Clare Mackay has a very challenging case on her hands – made even worse by the fact that the child in question has a potentially fatal metal condition. Time is definitely not on the police’s side. In a race against the clock and with the odds all stacked against them, can they succeed in finding who took the child and bring her back to safety? Or are they already far too late?

Clare is not giving up so easily. As she begins to dig deep, she realises that this was not a random snatching, but somebody had a very good reason for stealing the baby girl. Clare is convinced that somebody knows exactly what happened on that dark day, but will they spill the beans? Why was this particular baby girl stolen in plain sight? Can the police find her in time? Or are they on the trail of somebody who will go to any lengths to remain hidden?

Marion Todd’s In Plain Sight kept me turning the pages until two in the morning! A brilliantly written, densely plotted and wholly engrossing crime thriller, In Plain Sight is a superb police procedural that keeps readers guessing until the very last page. With twists and shocks aplenty, In Plain Sight is a chilling tale with a brilliant sense of place, heart-stopping pace and a fantastic heroine it is impossible not to root for: DI Clare Mackay.

Crime fiction fans looking for a new favourite author need to put Marion Todd at the very top of their must-buy list.

I read, reviewed and loved Marion's previous book called 'See Them Run', which is the first book in the new Scottish detective series featuring Detective Clare Mackay.  When I heard that Marion was due to release another book in the series, I just knew that I had to get a copy as soon as I could.  Well I managed to get a copy of 'In Plain Sight', devoured (not literally) it and absolutely loved reading 'In Plain Sight' but more about that in a bit.
I like the character of Detective Clare Mackay and I warmed to her from the start.  She is a hard working, tough, determined, kind and compassionate police officer.  In fact she is the sort of detective that you would want to investigate a case because you could be sure that if she gets a case, she will not rest until she has discovered the truth and apprehended the villain.  She is head of a small sort of team.  Each person works well either with each other or on their own.  They care for each other and look out for each other.
I was drawn into 'In Plain Sight' from the moment I read the synopsis and the story within the covers of the book sealed the deal as it were.  Well nothing gets your attention quicker than the apparent abduction of a baby.    To say that reading 'In Plain Sight' became seriously addictive is a massive understatement.  I would pick the book up only intending to read a couple of chapters to fill in the odd half hour but I would become so absorbed in the story that I would read for a lot longer than half an hour and read upwards of a dozen chapters at a time.  The pages turned increasingly quickly as my desperation to find out how the case concluded, grew and grew.  At one point the pages were turning that quickly that it was almost as if they were turning themselves.  All too quickly I reached the end of 'In Plain Sight', which I was sad about because it meant that I had to say a temporary goodbye to Detective Clare Mackay and her team.  I soon cheered up when I discovered that the next book in the series called 'Lies To Tell' is due for release on 25th June 2020.  I can't flipping wait.
'In Plain Sight' is extremely well written.  Marion has one of those writing styles that is easy to get along with and easy to get used to.  She has a way of making you feel that you are part of the story yourself.  That's how I feel at any rate.  Once Marion has your attention, she does not let you have it back until the moment you read the last word on the last page.  For me, 'In Plain Sight' hits the ground running and maintains the fairly fast pace throughout.  This book was one of those unpredictable, chilling and downright scary reads that had me gripped and on the edge of my seat throughout.  'In Plain Sight' certainly kept me guessing and then some.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'In Plain Sight' and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers.  I will most definitely be reading more of Marion's work in the future- on the 25th June 2020 to be precise!  The score on the Ginger Book Geek board just has to be 5* out of 5*.

It’s Sunday 22 September and at West Sands in St Andrews, Scotland, Detective Inspective Clare Mackay has recently returned from a holiday in France with her boyfriend, Geoffrey Dark, and is taking part in a charity fun run along with some of her colleagues.

As the 200 or so runners gather at the start, there’s disruption in the form of around 30 North-East Fife Environment Watch (NEFEW) members, who lay down on the ground in protest at fun run sponsor McIntosh Water’s plan to build a bottled water plant on the nearby Priory Marsh.

When everyone is distracted, a six-month-old girl called Abigail (Abi) Mitchell is taken from her pram and spirited away, through the crowds of spectators. Her parents, Kevin and Lisa, are devastated and can’t understand why anyone would want to take their baby. 

While being interviewed, the parents reveal their daughter has a congenital heart defect and needs regular doses of a medication called digoxin to stay alive. Without this drug, the baby’s doctor reveals she may only live for 48 hours before suffering heart failure and slipping into a coma.

DI Clare Mackay heads up the investigation and rapidly gathers resources from around the local area (Cupar, Dundee, Glenrothes) to focus on the case. Detective Chief Inspector Tony McAvettie is sent to help with the case, much to the dismay of Detective Sergeant Chris West who had a bust up with the DCI the year before. DI Mackay is doing a great job and competently and methodically working through all the evidence with her team but DCI McAvettie is more interested in a possible promotion to Superintendent than the missing baby and wants quicker results so he brings in a new detective inspector called Matt Fuller, much to Clare’s dismay.

It was good to learn a bit more about DI Mackay – after growing tired of renting in St Andrews, she’s recently bought a Victorian cottage and has an English Bull Terrier called Benjy. We also get to know a bit more about DS West and his relationship with PC Sara Stapleton. The book is set over the course of less than a week so it’s difficult to pack that much personal detail in.

Set over the course of six days, this is an action-packed and fast-paced read of a race against time to find a six-month-old baby with a serious heart condition. The case is a baffling one and the police explore every angle but struggle to work out motives for the abduction. The investigation is complicated and, although several people are linked in various ways, DI Clare Mackay and her team have difficulty putting the connections together to solve the case.

An excellently plotted police procedural with great attention to detail and I really felt like I was there, taking part in the investigation. It was a tense and engaging read, with plenty of twists, turns, misdirection and the odd red herring!

Overall, this was a great read and very well written with a good flow. I loved the way the compelling story unfolded and the clues were slowly revealed and various parts of the case were solved. The procedures seemed to be very realistic and true to life and I really wasn’t sure how the pieces of the puzzle were going to come together and how it was all going to be resolved.

I’ve read the author’s debut, See Them Run, and really enjoyed it and this one was even better. The series is developing well – I can’t wait to read Lies to Tell in June and will definitely be preordering!

I did enjoy this book after a slow start. I liked the characters and the way the story panned out, it was easy to read and was worth picking up!

In Plain Sight
by Marion Todd
Publication date: February 20, 2020
311 pages 
My Rating :4 out of 5 ⭐

In Plain Sight is the second book from a new Scottish detective series by Marion Todd. The story had a slow start but as I kept reading the story picked up. 
A child’s life is at stake. Which of the residents of St Andrews is hiding something  and why?

When 6-month old baby Abi Mitchell, was snatched from the crowd of spectators at a fun run, the local police have a major investigation on their hands. DI Clare Mackay and her team are in a race against the clock when they learn that the child has a potentially fatal congenital heart disease and requires digoxin to keep her alive.    

    As Clare investigates she realises this victim wasn’t selected at random. Someone knows who took the baby girl, and why. But will they reveal their secrets before it's too late? Just who is telling the truth ? Who is lying ? What really happened to baby Abi?

  This is my first time reading a book by this author. I liked the author’s writing style. The story is well written and easy to follow. I was able to easily picture the events as they happened. I found the story gripping, even as it took an unexpected turn. 

  As always if you like the book you read please take the time to leave a review for the author in places like goodreads & Amazon. It does not have to be long. Just a few sentences saying you liked the book will do. Authors really appreciate every review they get !

   I was lucky enough to be able to read and honestly review an E- ARC, courtesy of the publisher Canelo, NetGalley and the Author. Thank you !!!

I voluntarily provided an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. 

#InPlainSight #NetGalley

In plain sight by Marion Todd.
 When a baby girl is snatched from the crowd of spectators at a fun run, the local police have a major investigation on their hands. DI Clare Mackay  and her team are in a race against the clock when they learn that the child has a potentially fatal medical condition. 
As Clare investigates she realises this victim wasn't selected at random. Someone knows who took the baby girl, and why. But will they reveal their secrets before it's too late?
A very good read.  I liked the story and some of the characters. I hope  there is more to come.  4*.

I loved this book think its my favourite i really do love clare and how all the characters came together how it seemed like they'd hit a dead end but then a new clue would come up it makes you think one thing but then throws a curveball and its something completely different.

I cried with what happened to sara amd glad that she was ok and also fealt a bit sad at geoffs attitude towards the end like he expected her just to drop everything 😢

Really enjoyed reading it and would reccomend it.

Cant wait for the next one.

I found it agonizing to read about a missing baby and the part of not knowing if the baby was ok or not was really hard. It was fairly emotional to read and I found myself aching to find out what happened

In Plain Sight is a second book from a crime series. It portrays the life of DI Clare Mackays who now stays in St. Andrews. I am among the lucky ones who received this ARC without submitting a request. So I was very delighted. I like the previous one, so I give it a go. ⁣
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It is indeed comfortable to read series, when you know almost the entire characters. Clare's team is easy to love! Again, we met with Clare the boss, Chris the partner, Jim the responsible one, Sara the beautiful one. Their daily work life is more described in this story. I love how the book portrays police's daily life. I guess we should appreciate them more often. ⁣
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The team met a horrible missing baby case. The baby was missing during the local run event. Yep, missing in a plain sight. Clare and team was working hard for this baby, not just because she was probably in danger but she actually had a heart condition which needed digoxin daily dose. This case itself was intriguing at first. But when the case started to turn the point to some drugs case, it's just really not what I expect to be.⁣
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I can feel how stressful Clare's job by reading this book. Their long hours of investigating made it difficult and brought issues to their private life. We can see how Clare's relationship was affected by this case. ⁣
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Overall, this is kind of sweet whoddunit, because there is Clare's touch of sentiment in it and other's glimpse of private life. ⁣
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Thank you NetGalley and Canelo for providing me with this ARC. ⁣

Although this is the second book in the series I have not read the first and felt this one works well as a stand-alone. The story takes off right from the beginning which I really liked. I loved the twists and turns that this story took me on and I really want to check out more from this author.

Thoroughly enjoyed this mystery thriller. Interesting characters, interesting plot and a great conclusion. The central character in this book is really likeable and makes you want to read more!

DI Clare Mackay is back! In Plain Sight is as rigorously crafted as her first St Andrews police investigation. Thorough, tense and totally authentic, author Marion Todd has triumphed again.
‘The magnitude of the task facing her was not lost on Clare. A missing person was bad enough but a missing baby…’
As the midday sun glints off the North Sea, the Sunday fun run looks set to get off without any false starts. But with half as many environmental protestors as runners lying across the beach track ahead, the perfect diversion exists for a terrible crime to take place. A young baby is taken from her pram. Yet despite the vast number of runners and spectators on the sand dunes, witnesses for the abduction are few and far between. To further complicate proceedings, single-toothed, smiling baby Abi has a congenital defective heart and requires digoxin twice daily. DI Clare Mackay and her team have their work cut out to find the baby before time runs out.

‘She looked at the house and thought of the couple inside, almost certainly distraught. Her chest felt as if there was a lead weight pressing on it. The worst part of the job by miles.’
Upon meeting Abi’s parents Lisa and Kevin, DI Mackay starts to build a picture. In addition to the young couple who seemingly have all that money can buy, a line of decidedly dodgy suspects is brought into the fold. From a charmless, brawny barman, sweeping away questions with a wipe of his filthy cloth to the crumpled tissues dabbing Lisa’s swollen eyes, the richness of characters make In Plain Sight entirely believable. Is this crime entirely random or is something more sinister happening under the St Andrews community nose?

Knowing the area well, author Marion has created a strong sense of place. Detail is her forté – describing table lamps like sentries, a bleached name card next to an illuminated doorbell, furtive glances – she surveys everything swiftly through Clare’s razor-sharp gaze. In a case of such magnitude, this level of detail is entirely necessary and adds believability.

‘She had to get things clear in her head. This operation – finding Abi – all these officers. She couldn’t afford to blow it.’
As with See Them Run, Clare’s latest case has dark undertones. Due to its nature of finding a missing infant, support has been drafted in from other stations. The DCI making demands this time around is Tony McAvettie. With the Superintendent role in his sights, he wields his power to pressurise Clare. Subsequently, in a man’s world, she must hold her own.

Padding through her home, Daisy Cottage, with its broken heating system, devouring late night pizza, discarding clothes on the floor, our protagonist Clare is entirely relatable. But two of the things we love most about Clare are her ability to stand her ground whilst remaining compassionate. Unlike DIs in other series who appear hard-hitting and unreachable, Clare holds genuine concern. Her sister Jude, her bull terrier Benjy, her partner Geoffrey, her team and their families all matter to her. A strong female lead, she’s exactly who you want fighting your corner.

‘There were more sirens now. Clare found it almost unbearable, listening to the chase from fifteen miles away.’
Moving at such speed, the series brings deep appreciation for the police and emergency services. Such pace requires a considerable amount of research and, just as with Marion’s debut, See Them Run, once again she does not disappoint. Alluding to mobile phone trackers, social media monitoring systems, the Home Office database and even the Child Rescue Alert procedure, Marion’s research is impeccable and add weight to the story. Similarly the Incident Room odour of Pot Noodles and sweaty bodies coupled with the glare of its artificial light easily conjure images.

Moreover, the car scenes with DS Chris are police partnership gold. Using the car as a catalyst to literally drive the action, these moments are pertinent to the case and use of dialogue team-tags answers to clues.

It is no surprise to us that this book is Harrogate International Festival’s Book of the Month in its first month of release. In Plain Sight is a phenomenal follow-up to See Them Run and every page earns its place. Just two books in, we realise each case DI Clare Mackay and her team tackle are now must haves and hope this series runs for some considerable time to come.

Wow can’t wait for the 3rd book in this series. An amazing book. Tense, taut and thrilling.  Love, love, love it.

In Plain Sight by Marion Todd is second in the new Scottish police procedural series featuring DI Clare MacKay and I loved it. 
I was hooked within the first few pages and it can be read as a standalone which does make this book even better. However, I do recommend that you read the first book "See them run"

A six month old baby girl Abi Mitchell is snatched from her pram whilst her mother Lisa is standing in the crowd of spectators at a local charity run. DI Clare Mackay and her team begin a major investigation, to find out who has taken the baby. Whilst Kevin and Lisa the parents are interviewed they find out some important information, Abi has a congenital heart disease and requires digoxin to keep her alive.

The clock is ticking for DI Clare Mackay and her team to find Abu before it's too late.

Will they find Abi in time?

I highly recommend this book.

Big thank you to netgalley and Canelo for an advance copy of the book in exchange for this unbiased review.

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

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I found it to be an absorbing and thrilling read.   It had my attention from beginning to end.  I liked the main character and loved her working rapport with her work colleagues.  There were plenty of twists in the story to keep you guessing who had abducted baby Abi.  The book raced to it’s conclusion, tying up all loose ends nicely.   I now want to read the first book in this series, and hope there will be future books with DI Mackay in.  4 stars.