Buried For Good is the third instalment in the Private Investigator Hanlon series, set between the hubbub of Glasgow and a remote Scottish island. Former Metropolitan Police Detective, DCI Hanlon is approached to provide famed internet yoga instructor and prominent social media influencer Camille Anderson with protection as she has been receiving terrifying death threats at her home from which she runs a company offering remote back-to-nature retreats to cleanse the soul on a sparsely populated Scottish island that can only be accessed by boat. The first week passes seemingly without a hitch and Hanlon thinks she's gotten off easy but that may be a little premature. The second week arrives and before they know it two members of the group of yogi’s are dead. Suddenly aware they have a real killer in their midst and knowing they can only exit the island at certain times, those there feel trapped. But it's Camille who is in the most danger. Trapped on a barely inhabited piece of land with no chance of safety should this lunatic wish to murder them all. Can Hanlon protect those around her?

This is a compulsive and enthralling addition to a great and enjoyable series. There are so many secrets and lies as you peel away one you find another lurking beneath and then the pattern repeats. Coombs is becoming very adept at creating unpredictable twists and cleverly plotted red herrings and the narrative is increasingly tense and nail-biting as it progresses towards the latter stages. I was riveted from the very beginning and the spiritual, shamanic elements added a unique and unusual facet to the plot. Hanlon is a firecracker of a character with a wild, violent side that's much more controlled here and I enjoyed the immersiveness that come from it being told primarily from her perspective. The large suspect pool, non-stop action and locked-room vibes all culminate in a compelling and wickedly devious read, and it concludes in a gasp-worthy and explosive fashion. It has certainly renewed my interest in this series as in my mind this book has raised the bar on the previous instalments significantly. Highly recommended.

Buried for Good by Alex Coombs is a delightfully thrilling mystery that left me reeling from all its twists, turns, and misdirections.

What I Liked

The setting is stunning, and its descriptions are so detailed and atmospheric that they made me feel like I was there. I’ve always wanted to visit Scotland as many of my ancestors were Scottish, and now I feel like I have. I also loved the more confined island setting early on in the novel. It lends even more of an air of mystery because it limits the possibilities of who could have committed the crimes, or does it?

The main character, Hanlon – just Hanlon, no first name – reminds me so much of a Scottish Kinsey Millhone by Sue Grafton. A private investigator whose tough exterior and willingness to throw a punch protects a fragile inside full of self-doubt and insecurities. Relationships are hard for her as she has found that her natural state tends to push people away. She is very focused on her job and doesn’t have the time or inclination for false niceties that are expected. I appreciate that in real life, and while I was reading, it just made me like her more.

The pace stays quick from beginning to end and the twists, turns, and misdirections kept me guessing. I figured out a few parts of the conclusion, but I could have never imagined the whole story. I always love a good unexpected ending, and this story did not disappoint.

To Read or Not to Read

If you are looking for a fast-paced soft-boiled thriller with a no non-sense main character and a glorious setting, look no further. This book will give you all that and more.

With a heroine like Hanson anything is possible even the unexpected. A series of deaths but are they all murder? Why of course but what is the common thread, surely not peaceful yoga

Another hit for Alex Coombs.
A new great storyline for Hanlon and more character development, fast paced and keeps you hooked.
I look forward to seeing what is next for this character and her cohorts

What a joy to be back in Alex Coombs' safe hands as he regales us with another fast paced story from ex-police detective turned PI, Hanlon. (yes, that's right - no first name just Hanlon). Hanlon is her usual implacable self, yet in Buried for Good, we see a side of her that shows she's letting some of her anger go and , in terms of character development that is very fulfilling for the reader. But make no mistake - Hanlon is still very much the tough, physically fit, impulsive, able to defend herself, person I first became attached to in book one of the series - it's just she's opening up a little and some of her sharp corners are being rounded off (slightly - very slightly- after all it is Hanlon we're talking about).
Buried for good kicks off with action and ends with action - and just so you know most of the bits in between are filled with action too. Set mainly in Glasgow, but with a sojourn to the most creepy island, with its company of suspects attending a yoga retreat, this has an atmospheric feel of 'And Then There Were None' to it. After one of the company is killed, and with the suspects set up in a line, Hanlon's scrutiny begins. A scrutiny that takes her backwards in time to when the island was the property of a rock star now residing in a dementia care home.
With acres of links between the victims and a large suspect pool, Hanlon embarks on good old fashioned detective work.
I love Hanlon as a character. Her introspection and increasing self awareness makes her both endearing and fascinating. She is one of those characters that get into your head and make you want to help her come to terms with her demons. Her toughness and tenacity are balanced by her very well hidden vulnerability and self doubt. This is a fab read with a great storyline and brilliant characters. I loved it!

Took me a second to get into this one. However when I did it was good. A definite page turner about the middle of the book. Surprised me with how well it turned out.

Solid and entertaining. A good thriller that might not bring new thing to the genre (is there still new thing to bring to thriller?), but that delivers a fast-paced and engaging story from the beginning until the very end. I enjoy it and would recommend it!

I would like to thank Netgalley and Boldwood Books for an advance copy of Buried for Good, the third novel to feature former Met detective DCI Hanlon as a PI.

Hanlon is approached to provide protection for Camille Anderson, a prominent internet yoga instructor and influencer who has been receiving death threats at her home and business. The good news for Hanlon is that the protection is to take place on a Scottish island accessible only by boat and there will only be a few people there, the bad news is there is a murderer on the island, intent on harming Camille.

I enjoyed Buried for Good, which is basically a story of secrets and lies, wrapped in distractions and misdirection. It is told mostly from Hanlon’s point of view with a subplot of her potential love interest DI Murdo Campbell investigating a fraud case that has links to Hanlon’s case.

The novel held my attention from start to finish as I tried to work out who did what and who fitted in where. I did guess some of it, but much of it is unguessable as the pertinent information is only revealed in the denouement, and, boy, are there some bombshells. I was less keen on the, what can only be described as woo woo, elements of the novel. One of the characters is a shaman who appears to be able to foresee the future through his spirit guide. Well, whatever, although I suppose it is good misdirection.

The novel has a high body count for a protection job although Hanlon appears to have calmed down a bit with her violence controlled and only brought out when necessary. She is relatively mellower than when she was a police officer, but she’s still a dangerous, unpredictable character, whom it is difficult to like or identify with.

Buried for Good is a good read that I can recommend.

Private Investigator Hanlon is hired to protect a famous yoga instructor on her Scottish island retreat, but something goes very wrong and very soon in the week 2 people are alredy dead.
In between beautiful descriptions of idyllic landscapes, and with death count rising, Hanlon is determined to find out who's behind the killings and why.

This is a very good read, fast paced and enthralling, a real page turner that you can hardly put down. A lot of twists and turns that keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout the book. The plot is captivating and it is very well written, I particularly appreciated the lanscape's description. Having last seen those places quite some years ago, it was like visiting them again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was good! it seemed a little long in some chapters but it was filled with suspense, action , drama, and plenty of heart pounding moments! Its definitely worth reading!! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Hanlon in rural Scotland doesn't work the same for me but I loved the local dialect and humour.
The plot is engaging but a bit predictable for me

A thriller in the true sense of the word, another page turner from Alex Coombs, I could not put it down until I had finished it. Highly recommended. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for giving me an advance copy of this book to read.