Where She Lies is a very good read full of intrigue and mystery. Caro Ramsay has excelled and come up with a story that has all I like - great writing which drew me in quickly and a good plot that kept me guessing. Caplan and her team investigate when a local celebrity falls to her death. I enjoyed following Caplan, Craigo, Mackie and the team who have to dig deep and work out what is truth and what isn't to determine what happened to Koi, all while under heavy media scrutiny. I love the humour the author brings to her writing and the banter between the characters. The descriptions of the castle, its remoteness added so much atmosphere to the story in my opinion and I could picture it in my mind when reading. I couldn't stand most of Koi's family although I did feel some empathy for her and resonated with her feelings more towards the end of the book. I correctly guessed the ending which gives the story good closure.

If you're a fan of police procedurals I'd recommend this although woukd say read the series in order to know the characters from the beginning.

4 stars

While reading WHERE SHE LIES, I pondered if I should classify it as a 'Guilty Pleasures' experience—a book with no substance that still kept me turning pages. Sometimes I simply enjoy a good sleazy read. WHERE SHE LIES met some of my 'Guilty Pleasures' criteria:
(1) a story I wanted to continue as soon as I'd rested my weary eyes;
(2) slimy characters;
(3) mentally unstable characters;
(4) a ridiculous plot line that required suspending belief; and
(5) one that I'd forget within a few weeks.

Certainly the main mystery falls well into the 'Guilty Pleasures' criteria. A famous 'influencer' (and former supermodel) named Koi lies at the bottom of a jagged cliff near a Scottish castle owned by her family corporation. DCI Christine Caplan is called in to determine whether she accidentally fell, committed suicide, or was pushed. There are photos of her bloodied body lying in the rocks, but an exhaustive search does not recover this body, and soon another question arises—is she dead?

Koi's entire family lived with her in the castle—her famous photographer husband, her natural and adopted children, and a Svengali manager/promoter named Pomeroy. Most of them seem to have mental health issues, except for Pomeroy, who seems to be downright evil from the beginning of the narrative. The 'guilty pleasures' segment of this story arises mainly from Christine untangling the various issues that have caused the children's mental disorders.

I consider the police procedural section of Christine untangling all the sleazy connections, and consequently solving the mystery of Koi's fall to be worth 3.5 stars, which I would have rounded up to 4 stars. However, I did not like the segments of the novel that concentrated on Christine Caplan's family. They were an irritating 2-star read for me. Also, I did not like the conclusion. Some readers praised the conclusion, but this was actually an Epilogue that took place several months after the investigation was finished; I knew from about the 25% point onward that this was what had happened to Koi. But the concluding part of the investigation section was a downer overall, with only a couple of uplifting developments.

So, it was an average read for me—one I enjoyed but didn't find better than average. This was #4 in the DCI Christine Caplan series. I read #3 a year ago, and although I re-read my review, I couldn't recall anything about that plot or about Christine Caplan and her family. However, remember that average for me means that at least I found it interesting enough to read quickly to the end, and didn't stop and stutter trying to finish it. There are so many poor mysteries being published these days that a three-star from me means it has merit, just not noteworthy merit.

Thanks to Severn House for providing an electronic copy of this book via NetGallry. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions.

I love Caro Ramsay’s Caplan series, and Where She Lies does not disappoint. Ramsay delivers everything I crave in a mystery—complex characters, morally murky motives, and twisty plots that keep me guessing right up to the final pages.

This installment drops us into the murky world of the ultra-online influencer elite, as DCI Christine Caplan is called to a glamorous (and slightly sinister) Scottish castle turned celeb wedding venue. A young “It Girl” and ex-supermodel named Koi—face of a lifestyle empire—has been found dead on the rocks below a cliff, but where is the body? Was it a tragic accident, a staged suicide, or something far darker? Caplan must pick her way through a minefield of curated personas, brand deals, and weaponized grief to uncover the truth.

The family at the heart of this story is gloriously dysfunctional—nepo babies, fame addicts, and master manipulators—and Ramsay writes them with delicious precision. Every one of them is hiding something, and none of them seem particularly interested in helping Caplan unless there’s an opportunity for a photo op or a follower boost. The misdirection is masterful; just when you think you’ve figured it out, Ramsay pulls the rug out from under you again.

And the setting! The brooding Highland castle, windswept cliffs, and the ever-present scrutiny of the press and social media give the whole novel a gothic-meets-modern vibe that I absolutely devoured.

Caplan remains one of the most compelling detectives in Scottish crime fiction—sharp, no-nonsense, and endlessly human. Her internal struggles add depth without ever slowing the pace.

If you love smart, atmospheric crime with plenty of red herrings and a killer final twist, Where She Lies is an absolute must-read. Caro Ramsay just keeps getting better.

This was so good I loved it nail biting thriller I loved every minute of it thank you so much for allowing me to read this book

‘Where She Lies’,by Caro Ramsay, is book four in the consistently very enjoyable DCI Christine Caplan thriller series.This latest case for Caplan and her team takes her into the unreal world of a sheltered castle dwelling celebrity family where nothing is released into the public domain without being first filtered to achieve maximum media exposure and impact.When the police are called into investigate the suspicious circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the body of Koi,the supermodel mother of the extended troubled family,who may have fallen or been pushed from a cliff top,there are more questions than easy answers.Leaked photos of her bloodied body promote even more public scrutiny,and the need to complete their enquiries thoroughly.
The problems that Christine faces in her own family circle also bring into sharp focus those who cleverly manipulate situations to achieve their own ends and control the narrative, putting even more pressure on her already difficult professional responsibilities.
Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House,for an Advance Readers Copy.

I absolutely adored this book and devoured it over a couple of days! It has easily been one of my favourite books of the year and I can’t wait to read more from the author in the future.

This one had so much potential... a Scottish castle, influencer drama, a dead socialite, and a female detective unraveling the truth behind a curated life. All the ingredients for a gritty, twisty thriller were there… but the pacing just didn’t do it for me. 😬

I loved the setup and genuinely enjoyed the characters (DCI Christine Caplan is a standout), but the storytelling felt a bit like sitting through your uncle’s long-winded story at dinner. You know it’s going somewhere, but you kind of wish he’d skip to the good part. 🥴

The social media obsession, the nepo baby dynamics, the questions around Koi’s death; all compelling! I just wish it had been tighter, sharper, and more suspenseful. A good edit could’ve taken this from a slow simmer to a full-on boil.

Still, if you’re into:
📍Tartan noir vibes
📱Dark takes on influencer culture
🧩 Police procedurals with psychological layers
…this might still be your thing.

Here’s hoping Caplan gets another case, I would definitely give it a try!

DCI Christine Caplan #4
Can be read as a stand-alone.

Perhaps DCI Christine Caplan is relieved to have her family day celebration interrupted following her son Kenny‘s girlfriend Jade’s provocative rudeness. She sent to Torsvaig Castle, formerly known as Limpetlaw, for a potential fatal incident with air and sea rescue alerted, as well as a drone searching the bay. Her boss, Detective Superintendent Adam Spencer informs her the victim is former supermodel Koi McQuarrie-Samphire, her husband a celebrity photographer and the family being well connected influencers. He urges caution as nothing will be as it seems and the media attention will be huge. No pressure then, Caplan. The case is seriously weird from the get go as is the family response, especially that of their manager Pip Pomeroy. What is the truth of the extended family of the McQuarrie-Samphires and who is the real Koi?

I really like this series and have enjoyed them all, chiefly because of the likeable character of Caplan, her interesting family and police team especially the sartorial (not) DS Finan Craigo. The dynamics of the team are always good and this is evident in this latest instalment with plenty of entertaining banter alongside the hard work.

The setting in the castle is fabulous. It creates a terrific ancient atmosphere and the site is used so effectively in the unfolding and deepening mystery. The surrounding sea with the treacherous rocks matching human treachery, the heat of an untypical Scottish summer matching the heat of the investigation with the ancient walls wrapping around the whole thing. Add in the cult of celebrity, the multitude of questions about the exploited household and their strange behaviour, the eerie, claustrophobic, controlling atmosphere builds and builds. The whole set up is odd and peculiar to say the least and at times there are more questions and answers and in addition, rather a lot of coincidences.

As more evidence about Koi and her fellow supermodels known as The Sunflower Girls is revealed it causes the complex case to become even more tricky to try to solve. This is an especially puzzling part of the investigation.

It’s very well written, there’s plenty to keep you immersed in the storytelling with the darkness of Torsvaig being relieved with some well placed humour often courtesy of local policeman Officer Wattie from Pitcottie Station. I really like the end and I can’t wait to see what happens to Christine et al next.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Severn House for the early copy in return for an honest review.

A Glossy Facade..
The fourth in the DCI Christine Caplan series and a fatality at the foot of a cliff brings the team to a Scottish castle, home to a now deceased influencer and her tribe - but did Koi jump or was she pushed? Caplan needs to ferret beneath the glossy and glamorous facade of the influencer sheen to find the answers. A well crafted procedural with a strong female lead, a cast of well drawn characters, a credible setting and a compelling plot - a worthy addition to this series, each of which can be read as a standalone.

This is a good series. I actually started the series with Book #3, Out of the Dark, not realizing it was a series. I then went back and read the first two. Now we have #4 and I think it's my favorite! I'm a sucker for any plot revolving around social media stars. It still just boggles my mind that this is an actual, and quite lucrative, occupation. But anywho.... we revisit DCI Christine Caplan and her team as they are called to a Scottish castle where a social-media-famous family lives. Seems family member Koi, an ex-model, has fallen off a cliff. Or did she? There is no actual body, but there is a really cool picture of her body lying below on the rocks. Uh, ok.....? I loved reading about this horrible family and the atmosphere is terrific. I also really like DCI Caplan. Here's to hoping there is a Book #5!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Caro Ramsay and Severn House for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I will post my review to Amazon, Instagram, Barnes and Noble and other retail and social media sites upon publication day of August 5th.

Thanks to Caro and NetGalley for allowing me to read Where She Lies.

This is the fourth book in the series and the best to date and a page turner.
Caro has woven so many strands into this story : -

• The media are told that a celebrity family have moved from London to a Scottish Castle for their “privacy”. Their manager, who controls every aspect of their lives, feeds stories via a third party to tame journalists.

• A creepy setting which hints of “The Scottish Play”.

• A person missing in circumstances which could be likened to that of the author, Agatha Christie.

At home, Caplan’s dinner party is disrupted when her son Kenny’s new girlfriend, Jade, launches a vitriolic attack on police in general and Christine in particular.
It is clear that there is more to the mysterious Jade than meets the eye. Where did she get so much information?

Caplan’s team are by now well established.
DS Craigo continues to be a force to be reckoned with, his local knowledge being more than a match for the PNC.

There are many twists and turns, secrets and lies…….or perhaps the lies are just the person’s “truth”.

DCI Caplan is called to a castle in Scotland, where a social-media-famous family lives. The family is headed by a former model, Koi, and her celebrity photographer husband. Koi's disappeared from the cliffs surrounding the castle under mysterious circumstances during a family party: has she died in a tragic accident? Has she been pushed? And where is her body?

DCI Caplan is a rich, complex character, with her own family troubles bookending the story. I found the story surrounding her family compelling, and it was interesting to watch it unfold.

I personally don't enjoy police procedurals, and this book was heavy on it. We don't spend a lot of time observing or talking to the family firsthand: we get most of the information about them through dialogue during meetings amongst the police. That made it difficult for me to follow the story, and by the time I got to the end, I was surprised, because it felt as if not much had really happened. I could recall a few actual scenes in the castle that stuck out, but so much of the exposition was just reported from the police that there just wasn't a lot to hold on to. I prefer being taken through the action as it unfolds with the detective rather than reading it being reported to her.

I didn't read the previous books in this series, but it works as a standalone fine.

The latest in the DCI Christine Caplan series sees the detective and her team called to a coastal castle after a fall from height onto the rocks. Finding out the victim is an ex super model draws them into an unfamiliar world. But when the body doesn't immediately turn up on the tide, suspicions are raised.

Caplan and the usual crew find themselves dealing with influencers and the uber rich, all led by their controlling manager. The characters are well described although the plot meanders between past and present, making progress slow.

Ultimately Caplan does find some lines to progress, but not at pace. This is an interesting novel, with some weird and wonderful characters, but ultimately not the best installment of what is a fine series.

Caro Ramsay can do no wrong in my opinion, and while Christine Caplan isn’t my favourite protagonist of hers (possibly related to my lack of ability to see any part of myself reflected in an effortlessly put together ex-dancer), I still gallop through her books telling myself ‘just one more chapter’ until I reach the end. She has a great combination of engaging story, beautiful setting, and complicated relationships.

This book starts with Caplan being called to an imposing castle on a high cliff, the home of an ultra-famous family who have recently moved to Scotland from London. Koi, the mother of the family - ex supermodel, face of a generation - has fallen from the imposing cliff to the rocks below. The castle is practically a fortress, with no way in or not, and the large family of influencers seem more interested in their Instagram likes and spinning the PR narrative than helping the investigation. The victim herself is a mystery behind her public persona. Unraveling the truth puts Caplin herself into the glare of the public eye, and overall this is a solid read with a satisfying ending.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This series - with DCI Christine Caplan - is one I am always keen to read. It's so interesting having a female lead who has lived a life with adult children, a partner and friends as well as her job as a detective. In this installment Christine's life is progressing. She's moved from her caravan into a semi-renovated cottage with her husband who is coming out of his depression. One adult child is engaged to a sensible and loving man, while another is dating a 'nepo-baby' journalist who mines her connections with the family to undermine Christine professionally. Indeed the 'nepo-baby' theme is the one on which this novel turns as Christine's case in this novel involves the investigation into the disappearance of a minor celebrity and Chris must deal with her brood of 'nepo-babies'. In the course of the investigation, links to historic crimes emerge. While the police procedural elements of the novel are very satisfying, I most enjoyed Christine's character: her good humour, resilience, courage and smarts. The ending - while avoiding spoilers - is a celebration of female agency.

Looking forward to the next one, Caro Ramsay!

Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for the eARC.
Another great book from Caro Ramsay; tense, thrilling and chilling, I loved it.
Hiding away in an ancient castle in Scotland is a family famous for the stunningly beautiful Koi, famous the world over.
Detective Caplan is tasked with finding out what happened to Koi when her body is found on the rocks below the castle.
What she finds is a mystery: no body found, but a picture of Koi lying still on the rocks below the castle. Interrogating the family is almost impossible; they are almost like a cult, led by the father and his manager. They belong to a company that's making millions selling the family and wares on the Internet. P
Talk about a seriously mentally unstable family ... several members are traumatized and psychologically abused, all to keep the fans obsessed and buying anything related to them. Not that far away from today's reality!
And what a satisfying ending, I loved it!
It's a fantastic, beautifully written mystery, Can't wait for no. 5 in the series. Caro Ramsay is a genius!

This was a fascinating and compelling mystery which I think I half figured out what was going on from the start but was difficult to tell as the family involved is extremely complex. When I read I don’t get images of what’s going on in my head and I think that would have been useful for this in honesty as there’s some amazing descriptions of the castle but I found the geography confusing in honesty, there’s also some great descriptors of the family who are quite a nightmare. It really does a great job of reflecting how fame can impact a family and in this case the manipulation of the children was genuinely disturbing. The case is very challenging for the police and there’s an unexpected arrest for murder too., it’s a very twisty read but it’s the darkness of the characters that makes it so addictive.