I am loving this series, it had me hooked from the first page. A great story which is easy to followwith believable characters.
Looking forward to reading the next book.

A baby goes missing at a fun run. Clare Mackay was there waiting to run, so she was on the case straight away- especially when the parents reveal that she has a life threatening disease that requires medication to keep her alive.

As the case progresses it is clear that this was not a random snatching. Why does the baby's mother have another phone she doesn't want the police to know about? How come a groundsman & a part time tanning assistant have such a big house? And Clare wonders why she has to endure a very ambitious boss, who is only really interested in the way this looks to the public? Set in St Andrews- an area I am quite familiar with this, is a good police procedural. It is the second in the series. It could be read as a stand alone but as always it's probably better to be read in order. I am really enjoying this series & am already looking forward to the next in the series. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

In Plain Sight is the second novel to feature DI Clare Mackay, set in St Andrews, following on from 'See Them Run', the first book in series. I have to say I was completely and thoroughly hooked right from the start. I think this book would be fine a standalone, but I recommend reading 'See Them Run' as you'd be missing out if you didn't!

DI Clare Mackay has moved from Glasgow to join the St Andrews police force as the most senior officer stationed there, after a shooting incident in Glasgow left her with emotional and professional problems. She's left behind her home, her job, and her boyfriend to take up the job in the small seaside town.

In this story, having established a rapport with her new team, Clare quickly steps in to investigate when a baby girl is snatched from her pram at a charity fun run. However, time is of the essence when Clare and her team learn that the child has a potentially fatal medical condition. 

She and her partner-in-crime, DS Chris West, along with the rest of the team, track down every lead in this excellent police procedural. Clare is smart and very determined to solve the case, fully aware that the clock is ticking and, as if that wasn't enough, she has to face pressure from her new DCI to continue her investigation. Will the abductor(s) strike again? Will Clare be able to find baby Abi in time?

I thoroughly enjoyed In Plain Sight which is a complicated read with crimes leading onto other incidental ones, and a whole host of suspects and characters with cameo roles. The narrative resolutely remains with Clare's point of view. I fell right into this well-crafted and absorbing tale and I felt as though I was shadowing her as she worked at chasing her leads and following her instincts. Marion Todd's writing-style was impressive and noteworthy, slowly, slowly building up the tension, taking her time in setting things up, as I was second-guessing along the way, until, finally, the big reveal. 

Also, I think that the author has a lot more to offer in terms of Clare's portrayal. I was extremely taken with this character's toughness, dedication and tenacity and look forward to reading about her in future instalments of this series. With its polished pacing and plotting, I found this to be a thoroughly enjoyable, original and difficult to put down novel from Marion Todd. Evidently she is a gifted storyteller who can provide readers with thrills, sophistication and a story packed with substance. A very highly recommended five star read and an exciting story that will be of interest to many readers.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my request, from Canelo via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

Yes it’s here - the second in the wonderful Detective Clare McKay series!  I don’t usually recommend reading books in numerical order but as there are continuing back stories flowing from See Them Run, it will make reading them even more enjoyable.  Clare is fast rising to the top of my female detective  list and is certainly my favorite Scottish one.  This is not your grandmothers cozy Scottish police-lady  book.   It’s a fast paced, hard driven procedural with relevant and satisfying plots  and in this one the team is  frantically searching in a child abduction case that has deeper and sinister connections.

As I started to read this I noticed that it is the second book featuring  DI Clare Mackay. It took me a while to get into the writing style, but once I did I found that I enjoyed it. 

Marion Todd has created a range of charismatic characters and although I don't know the geographical setting, her writing makes the places sound very interesting. 

The pace of the story is swift, with just enough twists and turns in the plot to maintain interest. 

I think that the police procedural aspects of this novel are well written.  In all, I really liked this book and will look forward to future novels by Marion Todd. 

Without further ado I am just about to start reading the first book in the series which I missed out on: It is called 'See Them Run'. 

For now,  I give my thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for a copy of 'In Plain Sight' in exchange for this review.

Marion Todd is a brilliant, entertaining author. Her police procedurals feel like a complete story without any of the scenes scenes slacking off. I enjoyed her first book, and I LOVED this one. The story moved, from beginning to end, like a movie, almost seamless in the way the chapters were held together.

A missing child from a fun fair, and DI Clare and Chris had a race against time in their hands with the child being medically unwell. The missing child arc might have felt familiar, but the writing pulled me in like a snare. I was completely immersed into the story, captured by my kindle, not that I wanted to cut free. The author's writing was smooth like hot chocolate, rich like a delicious pastry.

Most police procedurals generally get down to nitty gritty, but this story had a heart. Clare as the lead detective was magnificent in her role. Her work and personal life seemed balanced. Well, almost. She was a cop. Her directives to her team had me in awe. They were a well oiled group who were ready to travel to the far extent to get the child back.

What I especially loved about Clare was that the case took priority, not her ego. And she knew how to subvert all foreseeable clashes. The author was quite clever in those scenes. The sheer hours of hard work by everyone and the intelligence shown by the cops made this one of my most addictive reads.

Being not well, I needed sleep more. But I spent half the night reading this book. Ah, what can I say... C'est la vie..

I read the first in the series and honestly liked that one better probably because I felt like the character development of Clare was more interesting in the first book. That being said this is a solid police procedural and an enjoyable read. 

I was given a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

This was a great second book in the series. I think the lead character has been developed well and I am looking forward to the next story. However, I can't help but be glad her love interest will be leaving for the US. He just didn't measure up to the rest of the characters or Clare Mackey.

My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Text Publishing, for the ARC.
A thoroughly good read which is perfectly fine as a stand alone book despite it actually being the second in the series. I hadn’t read the first one and never felt like there was something missing. 
I loved Claire the main character and in fact I thought all the characters played a good part without over leading the plot along. There was none of the personal angst affecting the plot which seems often to feature in books nowadays. That isn’t to say there wasn’t trouble in the characters lives but it was at an appropriate level which I enjoyed. 
 The story is interesting and I particularly enjoyed the constant one step forward two steps back scenarios the police found themselves in which I feel sure must be a realistic view of policing. 
The author is clearly one to watch out for.

Thank you to Canelo for the invitation to read the eARC via NetGalley of Marion Todd’s ‘In Plain Sight’ in exchange for an honest review. It was published on 20 February.

This is the second in her police procedural series featuring DI Clare Mackay, set in the small seaside town of St. Andrews, known for its prestigious university. 

When a six-month old baby girl is snatched from a crowd of spectators at a local fun run, DI Clare Mackay and her team begin a major investigation. They learn that the baby has a potentially fatal medical condition and needs regular medication.

It’s a complex case and Clare as investigates it becomes clear that this wasn’t a random abduction. No further details in order to avoid spoilers. 

This case has one of those common crime fiction tropes found in books (and on the telly): parents of victims who start yelling at the police accusing them of incompetence and not doing enough. I always want to give them a good talking to! 

This again proved a well plotted police procedural that ticked all the boxes that I look for in this sub-genre of crime fiction. In addition, Claire and a few of her team face challenges in their private lives.

I found it engrossing and read in a single sitting.

I will be looking forward to further cases in this series.

A toddler goes missing during a crowded day at the beach, just before a marathon takes place. At the same time a protest against the setting up of a plastic bottling plant is also taking place. In the ensuing crush no one has noticed how this toddler went missing.

Claire is the Detective in charge working against time to find the baby as in this case the child Abigail has a heart complaint which needs medication. Whilst the whole team at her local police plus teams drawn from the area work against the clock putting clues together, the child's mother falls under suspicion but there are no obvious signs of any collusion. Putting together the pieces of a puzzle where the pieces are all there, but how do they fit together to form a cohesive whole is this story. There are drugs, there are dealers, there are itinerant rogues and car jackers, there are former drug addicts and persons on the fringe. Are they all linked to this missing baby? 

Add to that people pulling rank in the Detective's own office trying to gain popularity, trying to get and lobbying for the senior positions coming up all adding more stress to an already stressful situation. 

Very well written, with just the correct amount of  being politically incorrect adds interest to the story. Tense and a page turner.

Great debut from this author - I loved the St Andrews setting, the female lead detective and the twists and turns of this story.  Absolutely has the making of a series and I look forward to the next one!

This is the second installment in the series featuring DI Clare Mackay and her team and set in St. Andrews, Scotland. In this case, Clare, DS Chris West, PC Sara Stapleton and others are focused on handling a kidnapping situation. The baby, 6-month-old Abi Mitchell, was snatched from her pram while she and her parents, Kevin and Lisa, were at a charity fun run. The abduction is complicated by the fact that Abi has congenital heart disease and requires digoxin to keep her alive. The clues and leads are slim with only a single witness reporting that he saw a pizza delivery motorcycle leave with something wiggling in the side bag. It seems that the baby has vanished but soon events escalate -- there is something more going on and Clare et al need to solve this fast. NO SPOILERS.

Although this should have been very gripping, it proved slow going for me though I read it in a single sitting. I had really enjoyed the first book but was not so drawn in by the plot here. I do like the characters and the setting and will likely continue on with the series. Clare has issues in her personal life that need resolution though her position with the police seems to be well set now and her cottage is finally renovated. Overall, it was a satisfactory police procedural.

Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for this e-book ARC to read and review.

Compelling, rivelrting and terrifying all at once - there were parts of this book I really enjoyed.  It was a bit full-on in places, felt like it was trying to be a Rebus or simiilar, and could get there, I guess, but there were a few small bits of it I didn't enjoy as much as I'd hoped to.
Solid,  but not exactly what I'd hoped.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Based in St Andrews, Scotland, DI Clare Mackay picks up the case of a baby, kidnapped during a fun-run.  The case is all the more critical because the baby requires regular medication for a potentially fatal heart condition.
The parents are heartbroken but, despite their ordinary jobs, they live in a home above their obvious means.
As pharmacy is ransacked in Dundee and the baby’s medication is amongst the drugs stolen but, how can the two cases be connected?
Marion Todd keeps the suspense coming and I felt genuinely nervous for the outcome as the odds became increasingly high.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and getting to know DI Clare Mckay, I will be reading the other book in the series and waiting for the next instalment.
If you are looking for a new thriller, this is highly recommended.

To those of you who regularly read my reviews, it will come as no surprise to hear that I have been anxiously awaiting In Plain Sight, which is the second book in the DI Clare Mackay series. You may also recall that the first book in the series, See Them Run, received a review from me that was exceptionally positive and that the bar had been set high for the follow up in the series.

So all of this hype means that I could have only set myself up for disappointment right? Wrong! In Plain Sight is an enthralling read, which held me in suspense as Marion put me in the passenger seat and transported me back to the town of St Andrews to witness Clare solve her latest case.

What a ride! Marion has crafted a chilling plot that would be any parents worst nightmare. You divert your gaze for just a moment and in a split second your whole world is ripped apart. This story sees Clare pulled into one of the worst types of cases, the kidnap of an innocent baby. Where does she even begin? But as Clare delves deeper into what happened to Abi, she quickly discovers a world of lies and deception. Certainly not as innocent as the baby she is racing against the clock trying to save!

Given the circumstances of the story, it sounds odd to say it but it was really great to catch up with Clare again. Her character is so vividly created that it almost feels like you are catching up with an old friend. The characters of Abi’s parents Lisa and Kevin have been beautifully crafted and will have you guessing about their motives and just how naive someone could be? Chris’ character continues to compliment Clare very well, their banter and the way they bounce off each other really helps to round out the story.

Once again Marion drew me into the story and had me invested in its plot and characters, this she does expertly, through flawless and engaging writing. Slowly building the tension throughout, Marion takes her time in setting things up and has you second-guessing everyone along the way until the big reveal. Her thorough research for plotlines shows in the way that she nails (as far as I can tell) the police procedural aspect of the story so realistically. So much so that, I found myself wondering, not for the first time, if Marion had actually been a member of the police force at one point. Maybe she was in a past life…

In Plain Sight can be read as a stand-alone, but I don’t recommend you start with this one, as you would be doing yourself an injustice by not reading See Them Run. So how does In Plain Sight stack up against See Them Run (which was in my top books for 2019)? Honestly, folks, it is hard to pick the winner out of these two in this race! They are two truly great reads. I am thrilled to say I am calling it now that In Plain Sight will definitely be following suit as one of my top books in 2020!

I am so ready for book three now Marion and I will be impatiently waiting for this! It was an absolute please to read and review In Plain Sight which I cannot recommend highly enough.

Thank you to NetGalley, Canelo and Marion Todd for allowing me to read an advanced copy of In Plain Sight which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

This review will be added to NetGalley, Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr, Mix, Amazon Australia, Amazon US, Apple Books, Kobo, Google Play and Barnes & Noble. As I am from Australia, unfortunately, I am unable to add to Amazon UK.

3.5 stars

  I enjoyed this police procedural set in Dundee, Scotland. This is the second in the series but I have not read the first and thought the author did a good job setting me so I could enjoy it anyway. I liked it enough though that I plan to go back and read the first one.

  DI Clare McKay gets a new supervisor that is angling to get a promotion to Superintendent when a 4 month old baby is kidnapped. The baby has a heart condition and need medication so it makes the situation even more troubling. The search moves right along and no stone is left unturned. 

  There is nothing spectacular about the book but it is an enjoyable mystery that had me turning the pages waiting to find out what would happen next. It kept my interest and the characters were likable which is great. It was an entertaining read.

  Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

Chills and fear that kidnapped baby Abi is but the tip of the iceberg!😲 What a great ride!👍

🤗I love this series and St. Andrews Detective Inspector Clare MacKay and her crew!  Author Marion Todd gave me a nice group of characters, police, witnesses and victims, to care about.  The writing keeps the tension building and deviates into the officers' personal lives just enough to make them interesting without drawing too much focus away from the investigative plot.  And, for me, the Scottish setting is always a huge draw as I am a bona fide fan of all things Scottish😉

🍼🚼 A single incident at a charity run morphs into just a thread in the larger tapestry of organized crime in the Fife area of eastern Scotland.  There's a good mixture of smart technical data collection, labor-intensive follow-up and an action-packed climax.  I really liked the balance between the official investigation, office politics, and the personal lives of Clare, Chris, Sara and Jim.  Devon is a great example of how those discounted by society can make a huge difference and Susan was a reformed character that I really wanted to succeed.  If only DSI Tony could earn his just rewards in the end!  

I totally recommend this story to fans of British crime procedurals, especially readers who don't like their stories too gruesome.

Thanks to publisher Canelo and NetGalley for providing a complimentary advance copy of the book;  this is my voluntary and honest review.

In Plain Sight is the second book in the DI Clare Mackay series and another great instalment having previously enjoyed the first one “See Them Run”. All hands are on deck when a baby is snatched from her pram at a charity fun run in which Mackay is taking part so suffice to say as a result of this and the fact that there was a protest blocking the runners from leaving the pen, the run didn’t go ahead. This is a difficult case but more so because of the fact that the baby, 6 month old Abi has a congenital heart disease and needs digoxin twice daily to control it, the doctor advises without it, she is at risk of dying.

With that knowledge, police are drafted in from the local surrounding areas to help and as the investigation ensues, things get interesting, lies are being told, betrayal of family members… can Clare discover the truth and find Abi before its too late?

A great police procedural book and an interesting investigation, Clare has some barriers in her way as her DCI is more concerned about a promotion to Super than actually helping. I was thoroughly invested and read it in less than a day.

Just finished "In Plain Sight" .by Marion Todd..4.5* from me.Loved this story, totally gripped from page one until the very last page. This is the second book I have read from this author and they are really good. Thanks to net galley for the book.