The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
BOOK OF THE WEEK THIS WEEK WE’RE READING... 8/10
The Shadow Man by Helen Fields, Avon, £7.99 9/10 Insatiable by Daisy Buchanan, Sphere, £12.99.
This dark, gritty new crime novel from the renowned Helen Fields is not for the faint of heart.
Set in Edinburgh, the novel follows the narrative of American profiler and forensic psychologist Dr Connie Woodbine, who has been flown in to work with DI Brodie Baarda on the kidnapping of a young woman, Elspeth Dunwoody, in the city. Soon after they start looking for Elspeth, two others are kidnapped, and forensics ties their disappearance to the same abductor. Meggy is a 12-year-old with a neglectful stepmother, and Xavier is a paraplegic man in a wheelchair.
These crimes have been connected to two murders. One was a young wife and mother who was killed by accident in an attempt to kidnap her. The other was a man in a wheelchair stabbed to death by the demented Shadow Man when he tried to intervene while Xavier was being taken. There is a strong suspicion that there may have been previous murders.
Without giving away too much of the plot, both Connie and Baarda are puzzled as the crimes do not point towards the usual criteria of a serial killer who chooses victims of a similar profile. Helen Fielding’s
Shadow Man is much more sinister, suffering from a multitude of mental illnesses which render him unable to live in reality; instead he is grounded in his own fantasy which poses a very real threat to the residents of Edinburgh.
Helen Fields has incorporated some brilliant characters within this creepy narrative, and I became invested in the dynamic partnership between the brilliantly clever Connie and the shy, reserved Baarda.
The interaction between them works harmoniously, Connie is straight talking and Baarda is ever polite but there is lots of sharp humour and witty exchanges between them which provides welcome relief from the underlyingly ghoulish tone that permeates the entire narrative.
The author provides her reader with desperation, an almost unbearable tension and shocks aplenty as the reality and horror of the mystery begins to unfold. The plot is cleverly constructed, and the employment of a split narrative ensures that the pace is varied enough to provide suitable amounts of relief to counterbalance the undeniable horrors and gore. The cherry on top of this fantastic novel is the ending – the final pages provide readers with the ultimate finale.
There is an undeniable trend for crime novels among writers in 2021, but Helen Fields and The Shadow Man certainly belong at the top of the list. Dark, disturbing but brilliantly written, this novel keeps the reader guessing until the very end.
Sleek-haired, perfectly dressed Lottie captivates Violet at a work event and becomes a key feature in Violet’s mind in the days that follow. Stuck in a job she no longer gains satisfaction from, newly heartbroken and distanced from her best friend, Violet’s life is at a standstill and she craves more from life.
After exchanging emails, Lottie gives Violet an offer she cannot refuse – to join her at her new start-up. This is only the beginning of an unexpected new friendship.
Eventually Violet is invited into Lottie and her husband’s world of expensive tastes and Friday night sex parties.
Violet is entirely seduced by Lottie’s life and the newfound excitement brought into her own life.
Violet’s life suddenly seems to be far closer to what she hoped it would be, but has she bitten off more than she can chew with this new friendship?
Cracks begin to show, and Violet is left wondering if she is truly fulfilled or just running from her past.
Daisy Buchanan is an award-winning journalist and the author of the critically acclaimed book How To Be A Grown Up and The Sisterhood: A Love Letter To The Women Who Have Shaped Us.
Insatiable is her debut novel and I hope she is starting as she means to go on. Her innate sense of humour is revealed through main character Violet throughout this book, and offered a refreshing read on a story about women for women.
At times, examining as it does 21st Century lust, this novel was outrageous and raunchy, but its frankness also managed to strip back the brashness and address more serious matters and emotions.
A book that provides exactly what is says on the cover: A love story for greedy girls. This read is for those who want more.
B uses of the doubledecker sort appear in many guises, besides taking passengers from A to B. In the main picture above, there was a delay to the Carnoustie to Invergowrie bus service on January 12 1987. The service bus was caught out by the slippery conditions and finished up in the ditch running along the side of the Ashludie Course. The writing on the side of the body, “Best Bus Around” may be filed under the heading of irony.
Buses are good for advertising campaigns, and these three, from various operators, were used to publicise a donor card campaign 20 years ago.
From the summer of 2004, Carnoustie Panmure FC were being paraded around the town in an open-top decker, possibly during gala day after winning the OVD Scottish Junior Cup. It came from First Bus in Aberdeen, so presumably Tayside’s WTS272T was unavailable.
Did the pictures transport you with delight? If you wish to comment, email craigie@ thecourier.co.uk
The Government sustained a heavy blow in Kirkcaldy Burgh when Labour wrested the seat from the Liberal wing of the Coalition. The figures were declared as follows – Tom Kennedy (Lab), 11,674; Sir RC Lockhart (CL), 10,199. Cheer after cheer rent the air when Sheriff Fleming declared the result from the balcony of the Town Hall.
To the crowd at Stark’s Park, where Raith Rovers and Clydebank were contesting points, the astounding news was conveyed, and by the resounding cheers that greeted the sandwichman’s display as he walked round, Mr Kennedy’s supporters were in the majority.