A highly detailed police procedural of an investigation into kidnap and murder.
The story opens with a report of a missing person - Beatrice Ulbricht, a German music student who lives and works in London. It's the sort of routine case that usually doesn't merit much attention.
But it turns out that the missing woman is the daughter of the German government's German Minister of Justice and suddenly a lot of police manpower is brought to bear on the case.
Leading the investigation is Detective Chief Inspector Craig Gillard whose task isn't made any easier by the fact that the Beatrice seems to have completely vanished while travelling on a London bound train. Craig is under pressure from his Chief Constable to solve the case while she in turn is being leaned on by the British Government's Home Secretary.
The case takes a twist when major flooding throws up clues including the body of a teenage girl who's been missing for more than 30 years! And then the investigation twists again as the killer strikes inside Craig's home. Now, it's a race against to find another kidnap victim before it's too late and for Craig, it's personal.
This is the 5th book featuring DCI Craig Gillard and an investigation that revolves around missing women and their mobile phones, the extensive use of close circuit TV and a murderer who has a deadly grudge against Craig and seems set on showing up the police in a bad light. It's a gripping mystery thriller and even though the action slows in places, the author Nick Louth adds some intriguing twists and turns to the plot. A fine addition to what is turning out to be a great crime series.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Canelo for a copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.

I was made up getting this book as an ARC, I love this series, and I have to say this is the BEST so far, wow! What a story.

I was pleased to see his wife, Sam is behaving herself a bit better these days, so that’s taking the pressure off poor Craig. However, one thing that did confuse me, and maybe I’ve got it wrong, is Craig’s auntie I thought was called Barbara, but in this book she’s called Trish, or is that another auntie??!! Barbara I remember was quite comical and this me that lives over the road is a bitch, surprised her and Sam don’t get on better!!

Anyway, back to the story and the missing German musician who literally has disappeared without a trace into fresh air. It really is a well thought out story, with a lot of red herrings, and my, oh my what a tale of deceit and intrigue. I was so excited I didn’t want it to end. The lives of all concerned are all mixed up, and how Nick thought it all out just amazes me. If you want a good tale, read this you won’t be disappointed. I can’t wait for the next one.

My thanks to Nick & Netgalley for the ARC.

Thank you to Net Galley and Canelo for the advanced copy of this the 5th in the DCI Craig Gillard series

What starts as a missing person enquiry soon escalates beyond the comprehension of the team especially as the missing student is the daughter of a German Minister of Justice and all resources made available to them , when a flash flood hits Surrey a body of a young girl is found in an overturned car, could this be the missing girl or someone else's loved one

Another fast paced read

I absolutely love the DCI Craig Gillard series I read all theprevious books and when I was lucky enough to be given The Body Under The Bridge to review I was delighted and I wasn't disappointed.This book is full of suspense the characters are believable and the plot is so very clever .The story starts with a high profile disappearance but before long there are bodies found with a mystery attached .There are many aspects to this book and eventually it all weaves itself together for a very satisfying conclusion.I didn't guess who the murderer was until near the end lots of excitement fast paced and I think the best one yet .Many thanks to the Publisher the Author and NetGalley for my review copy in return for an honest review .

The body of 16 year girl missing for nearly 40 years appears is discovered perfectly preserved close to that of a newly murdered young woman and draws DCI Hilliard into a mystery that becomes very personal as the killer seeks his vengeance against him. A thrilling story as the policeman defies his superiors in frantic race against time to save his wife, the next victim.

My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Canelo for the ARC.
This is book #5 in the DCI Craig Gillard series and, dare I say this - it is THE best yet! Wow! the content of this plot is absolutely mind-boggling; so intricately woven through the fast-paced investigation, the reader is right there alongside Craig and his team as they navigate all the twists and turns of this cleverly constructed story. Excellent writing, dialogue and characterisation. You just don't know what's going to happen next: there really are some extremely harrowing and heart-stopping moments.

Beatrice Ulbricht, a 25yr-old music student, is reported missing on a Wednesday by a colleague after not turning up for an important recital the previous evening - despite texting that she was on the train and on her way. Unlimited resources are made available to Craig and his team because Beatrice is the daughter of the German Minister of Justice, and the Home Office is bearing down on Chief Constable Alison Rigby for a result.
However, things start to get complicated when tracing her train journey and her phone. How can she disappear from a train carriage? How is her phone on a different journey? How did she disappear from a bus stop in the village on the Sunday night?

When flash floods hit Surrey the rescue teams discover a body trapped in an overturned car - along with a hair belonging to Beatrice. How can that body of a young girl be DNA-matched to a missing person from 35+ years before and where is Beatrice?

When messages personalised to Craig start arriving everything takes on a personal slant. Not only is Craig and his team targeted, but also his wife Sam and his interfering Aunt Trish - with harrowing and heart-stopping results. Who is out there and intent on destroying him?

Terrific!

288 pages

4 stars

DCI Craig Gillard and his team catch the case of a missing woman. She is a concert violinist who disappeared on a train on her way to a performance with the rest of her quartet. The catch is that she is the daughter of a very high ranking German official. So, he and the brass are on Craig's back constantly.

As they begin their investigation, they seem to make progress until the missing woman's father drops a bombshell. They realize that there is much more to the case than it seemed at first.

Little does Gillard know that he is in for perhaps the toughest and most upsetting case of his career.

This book is well written and plotted. It is easy to read and enjoyable. I like Gillard and the rest of his team. They get along well together and that's always a plus in a book I choose to read. It was a little slow in places, but still a very good police procedural. It showed the highs and lows that all officers experience in any investigation. It was very real and I believe true-to-life.

I want to thank NetGalley and Canelo for forwarding to me a copy of this very good book for me to read, enjoy and review.

Thanks to Canelo and Netgalley for giving me opportunity to review this excellent book from Nick Louth. I have read the previous books in this series which made this a more enjoyable read, especially as it was a complex plot with lots of twists. I quickly got into the story and couldn’t put it down , wanting to find out what happened next. Fast paced and chilling, the characters are believable this is a great book. Look forward to the next instalment.

Thank you to the author, Canelo Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the 3rd Nick Louth book I've read, with DCI Gillard at the helm of a murder investigation (5th in the series). Once again, the author delivers a solid police procedural, with all the tedious, frustrating and sometimes exciting things involved in police work. However, I did feel that much of the time, the perpetrator seemed to be running rings around the police - which I am sure happens, but it did impinge a bit on my reading pleasure (and peace of mind, tbh). Who exactly is behind the crimes, and how it all fits together, is kept hidden to the end, although the identity of the perpetrator was pretty clear to me about halfway through. The only false note for me was Gillard's relationship with his wife. This wasn't quite the afterthought it was in the last book, but it did still feel very one-dimensional and superficial.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4

I enjoyed this book. Page turner. Interesting characters. Great premise. Plenty of suspense to keep me guessing. Would definitely read his next offering. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

DCI Craig Gillard is disturbed during the funeral of a friend and police officer, so he knows that the reason must be important. He's told to head up a missing person enquiry, not usually a cause of panic, especially as it's an adult. Why? What happens becomes one of his worst nightmares. Not just his either, other officers suffer too.

A good story, Lots happening, an exciting read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I read an advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.

This was a great read and a real page-turner. The story is well-paced (although slightly far-fetched) and the characters are believable. I will definitely read more of the author's books.

This book keeps the reader waiting but it is well worth the wait! It starts for quite some time as if it was just another missing person albeit with important political connections. Then there is another lost person whose disappearance cannot be explained as she was a missing case too many years ago for any of it to make sense. As the plot gradually releases other bits of information,the pace hots up dramatically and involves the personal lives of a number of the detective's on the case. The ending is certainly not predictable. This is a well written book with interesting characters and an intriguing plot. I strongly recommend it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Whilst it is one of a series, I think it could also be read as a stand alone. Nick Louth’s writing goes from strength to strength. His characters are realistic, and the plot is well paced. The story becomes more complex as the book develops, but never too complicated that you can’t follow it. I can’t wait for the next volume in this series.

Nick Louth’s latest novel The Body Under the Bridge sets a pace few can match. I devoured it like a starving fox on road kill. Few writers can deliver a technical device within their plot that doesn’t have flaws but Nick, possibly aided by Kiat Huang, managed to deliver a corker. DCI Craig Gillard, harassed as usual by Chief Inspector Alison Rigby, is coerced in to taking charge of a misper and unusually, is given carte blanche by Alison on resources. Not your average misper obviously and we soon see a political connection. Quickly the investigation widens as the body count rises, concluding in a race against time to rescue his beloved Sam. Never again will I open an Excel spreadsheet without seeing it as a double entendre.
Just a couple of niggles, I thought Vanessa would have faced quite a few charges and a prison sentence. The hydraulic brake cable, suitable burnt through, should not have released the handbrake as that would have been operated by a Bowden cable.

A very good read and the book maintained my interest throughout. Didn't quite warrant, for me, a five star rating as I always appreciate a 'wow -didn't see that coming' end. Having said that I was pleased there was no Hollywood style ending with guns, knives or whatever and last ditch rescue/help.
It must be very hard for an author to come up with something new for a police based crime thriller but this book is a very good attempt. I noticed there are 3 earlier books in the series but I did not find that I was disadvantaged by taking this book as a stand-alone. Thoroughly recommended

I wanted to finish this book...always s good sign.
The premise of the plot, a missing violinist, plays "second fiddle" (pun) to the efforts to destroy the detective hero, Craig Halliday by a man who feels thwarted by Halliday.
We are led on a twisted and tormented journey, literally and metaphorically, by Louth, to solve the initial crime which soon becomes several murders, one several decades old.
Perhaps my reservation is Louth's insistence on explaining everything at the end. Some of it doesn't matter.
Great characters, an at times outrageous plot and a cracking pace make this a worthwhile read.

A woman disappears but is captured on CCTV on a train. A young girl is found in a flooded river but she disappeared 40 years ago .
DCI Gillard is in charge but it seems he and his family could be a target and other policeman become entangled in the mystery.
Then it comes down to a clue - can he solve it and the riddle of the Body under the Bridge before its to late?

The fifth book in the excellent police procedural series featuring DCI Craig Gillard. A German music student is reported missing and events soon escalate. This book had a good pace and lots of suspense. As with all the books in this series, this book is well-written and easy to read. The characters are well-drawn and very likeable. There were some aspects of the plot I found a little implausible, nevertheless I really enjoyed this book.

I am grateful to net galley.com and Canelo for an advance review copy of this book which has in no way influenced the review of it.

A young woman is missing...Criag Gillard is on the case, it turns out however that this young woman is no ordinary young woman but is the daughter of a high ranking German government official. She was last seen on a train heading to a recital with her string quartet.

A body is found in a submerged car...but the evidence points in very confusing very misleading directions could it really be who the DNA says it is? Why is the German woman's hair mixed in there? So many seemingly contradictory clues where does the investigation start?

Sam is missing...Gillard is off the case, who would want to hurt her and why? How can Gillard keep tabs on the investigation at a distance and is everyone really who they say they are?

I enjoyed this book immensely it is the third of the Gillard novels that I have read and each time the writer draws you further in with the characters. It is a classic whodunnit, police procedural novel in which there are twists and turns right up until the end. If you enjoy the police procedural then this book will certainly not disappoint.