An intriguing story crossing two timelines. When Freya Sutherland disappeared after leaving a note for her family everyone assumes she has left with friends but she is never heard of again. More than 20 years later there is the possibility of a new lead, could Freya finally be found? A clever and sometimes harrowing story.

Having not read the first two books in this series I felt I had missed a lot of the story as there were so many references to these books. The reading was disjointed and the story did not flow. A good read but did not get my heart racing.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

I really enjoyed this steady paced read from the author and featuring DI Monica Kennedy. It's book 3 in the series but works well as a stand alone. I loved the setting of the Scottish Highlands and the characterisation was very good. The book is quite atmospheric and captures the Highlands perfectly. The plot revolves around the discovery of a body and serial killer Pauline Tosh, who is serving life in prison. A good read by G R Halliday which crime and thriller fans will enjoy. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Sadly I can't say I enjoyed this one. The story needed coincidences to work and the main character's narration started becoming tedious.

A solid four star read .. Great premise. Well written. Good characters. Page turner. Plenty of suspense to keep me guessing.. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

Another outing for DI Monica Kennedy (book 3) although it works okay as a standalone novel with just a few moments alluding to the previous story lines. I was looking forward to this latest instalment but I can’t say I was blown away by it and although we’ll written it was quite predictable.

I never repeat the blurb. This was OK but I'd not rave...maybe because I'd missed earlier parts, but that should not matter. Not sure if I would read more.

After thoroughly enjoying the previous two books in this series I was looking forward to this which was a great continuation of DI Monica Kennedy and her team yet lacked some of the pace and excitement of the previous two, that said I’m hoping there’s a fourth. The were some interesting characters in this, not least the serial killer and it was good to see how Monica’s own family life continued but the cold case itself, despite its high profile suspects, just didn’t quite hit the mark for me although I guess as I intuited who the killer was it did take some of the fun out of it., that said it was still a solid case and interesting to see how it all wove together.

I thought this book was okay, but for me it was on the slow side. I would not be able to rave about it, but would say it is a perfectly fine read, I am an impatient reader and other readers who are more patient than me will probably enjoy it more.

This is the latest addition to GR Halliday's Scottish crime series set in Inverness and featuring DI Monica Kennedy, and her police team of DS Connor Crawford, DC Ben Fisher and media savvy DC Maria Khan. Over a decade ago, Monica was responsible for catching serial killer Pauline Tosh, now incarcerated at the remote Highlands Carselang Prison, a prison where Monica's father had served as a prison guard. Tosh, still a dangerous woman, asks to see Monica, and at their meeting she gives her a hand drawn map with an x marked in an area of tidal marshland. Having always suspected Tosh had killed others, when the well preserved, strangled body of a murdered young woman is dug up, the obvious conclusion is that Tosh was responsible. However, nothing is as it seems in a narrative that shifts from a past, featuring the life of the murdered victim, and the present.

With the victim killed more than two decades ago in 1994, it does not look promising that they will find any leads or evidence to solve the cold case, and ambitious boss Detective Superintendent Fred Hately is keeping his distance, unwilling to be associated with failure. Monica finds herself feeling the pressure coming at her from a number of different directions, ramping up her anxiety levels, she is missing meals and suffering from severe sleep deprivation. Her daughter Lucy is experiencing problems at school and Connor is causing her serious concerns with his out of character behaviour and absence at a time she needs the input of all her team. In addition, Tosh is refusing to explain how she came to know about the body, and there are a series of fires, could there possibly be any connections to the cold case?

Halliday writes a well plotted crime story with a great cast of colourful characters that include a Scottish politician, a well known chef, a disturbed long term patient in a psychiatric hospital, and the volatile, violent comedian, the larger than life William 'Buggsy' MacIvor. This is a terrific addition to this wonderful Scottish crime series, there are red herrings galore in this engaging, dark, suspenseful and twisted crime mystery. The atmospheric Highlands location with its intriguing folklore itself serves as an integral character in the book. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

This is the first time that I have read a book in this series and I really enjoyed it.

There was obvious reference from previous cases but that didn't spoil my enjoyment of the story as their was enough reference given within this story to understand the plot.

Monica is drawn into a past case when the notorious serial killer Pauline Tosh who she convicted requests a visit presenting her with a map claiming that she knows the burial site of a body, knowing of her past history any claim Tosh makes must be taken seriously!

The unearthing and discovery of the body opens the cold case of missing teenage girl.

This book followed a complicated plot which was well thought up and researched, a strong female character that has a wonderful relationship with her small team.



police procedual

Di Monica Kennedy is a series and this is the first one I have read. She is called to a serial killer who discloses another body. This is the body of a woman who went missing 20 years ago. The story unpacks different suspects and gets you drawn in from start to finish providing a final twist. Really enjoyed and would recommend.

This is a great crime drama that has some realistic and engaging characters and a cracking story that keeps you guessing right to the end. When Scottish detective Monica receives a map from a serial killer she put away in a previous book and a body is found off we go for a journey weaving between timelines in the dramatic rural highlands settings as past and present reveal what really happened to a young missing girl.

OMG THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING!! READ IT! The characters, the plot, the writing... magnificent.

Another well-researched police procedural crime novel from Halliday, with a sharp delivery and clever twists, set in the gloomy backdrop of Inverness.
A female serial killer and a body found under the marsh after 20 years means that things get more difficult for Monica on top of personal issues. Loved the moments between Monica and Tosh, their interactions were very interesting from a psychological perspective.
The desolation of the highlands is palpable and setting this book to perfection.

Having read and enjoyed the previous 2 books in this series I was looking forward to Under the Marsh by G R Halliday however whilst the storyline was good I felt slightly underwhelmed by the time I reached the end of the book.

The book seemed to meander at times with more focus on the lead detective’s personal life than the actual investigation and the flashbacks didn’t really seem to contribute to pushing the story along.

So overall slightly disappointed.

Must say this just isn’t an ordinary police procedure. Got totally drawn into the story not only of missing Lydia but of Monica her family and Crawford. Tosh the infamous female serial killer now behind bars. Did she also kill Lydia? The tales are interwoven in a very clever manner. To top it off it’s set in Inverness and the beautiful highlands. I will definitely looking into more books by this author.
Thank you Netgalley, Penguin and G R Halliday for an advanced copy of Under The Marsh.

This was my first introduction to DI Monica Kennedy - but I hope I'll meet her again! Thanks to NetGalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is due to be published in July 2022.

The story opens with a notorious female serial killer asking to see DI Kennedy from her jail cell. The killer - Pauline Tosh - reveals the whereabouts of a body buried deep in the tidal marshes. Assuming this locates one of Tosh's own victims, the police team rush to uncover the grave...and discover that things are far from as simple as they expect.

I was in the mood for a well-plotted, well-researched police procedural and this one delivered perfectly. The twists were clever and kept me reading. I particularly enjoyed the fact that what started as a straighforward exchange between two women (albeit a killer and her captor) became something so much more engaging and wide-ranging. As the picture got bigger and more complex, I was totally hooked! The flashbacks are also well-managed and add to the creeping sense of dread about what will be uncovered by the end of the book.

The Scottish setting works brilliantly for this book; the desolation of the marshes, the remoteness of the locations and the places imbued with brutal history all add to the tense atmosphere.

DI Monica Kennedy is an interesting and engaging lead character - I liked the fact that she is independent and tough. Although she has the police team around her, she very much remains the focus for much of the action of the novel - which is good for me as I often get lost when there are too many police officers to keep up with. Special mention to the forensic archaeologist though - I loved this eccentric character with his passion for his work and would like to see more of Dr Clive Ridgeway!

This is the third book in the series, but I think it works perfectly as a standalone - I didn't feel like I had missed any back-story at all.

I'd recommend this book to lovers of well-plotted and clever police procedurals. I'll certainly be looking to read more of this series - and spend some more time with DI Kennedy and her quirky team.

DI Monica Kennedy is visiting a notorious serial killer who claims she has information on more bodies, is she being honest?
When a body turns up linked to a cold case from many years previously can Monica and her team work the case where many people are implicated but none seem to be honest about their involvement.
I loved the previous books in this series and being set in Inverness and the Highlands is an added bonus for me. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

A rollicking read, good classic detective novel fare with compelling characters and intrigue in a number of directions that pulled me along. The flashback scenes added texture and additional depth, and I found the lead character believable and relatable. It was nice that you didn't have to have read the previous to understand which can be annoying in detective series. Good holiday reading.

This police procedural was full of twists and turns that kept me interested. The main lead was well written and I found her to be a strong character.