The Sideman By Caro Ramsay

Caro Ramsay is the Glaswegian author behind the critically acclaimed Anderson and Costello series. The first book, Absolution, made the shortlist for the Crime Writers’ Association New Blood Dagger for best debut of the year, the ninth, The Suffering Of Strangers, was longlisted for the 2018 McIlvanney Prize, and this tenth book is another must-read.

Featuring Detective Inspector Winifred “Freddie” Costello and her colleague, Detective Chief Inspector Colin Anderon, The Sideman picks up where The Suffering Of Strangers left off – with Costello convinced that George Haggerty is guilty of the murder of his wife and son, despite an ironclad alibi.

The novel opens with a resignation letter from Costello, who feels that insufficient support from the higher-ups in the force resulted in the tragedy in the previous book. Knowing that Haggerty murdered his own wife and son, Costello can’t let him get away with it.

Upon beginning her own, independent investigations, however, Costello disappears. Anderson carries on regardless – between the cases piling up at work and caring for his grandson, Baby Moses, he barely has a second to breathe.

In the midst of all this, a badly beaten body is found on a remote mountain pass and a pool of blood is found at the edge of Loch Lomond. Could these be connected to Costello’s disappearance?

Ramsay’s great strength lies in the way she seamlessly interweaves often highly intricate storylines without leaving the reader behind. Newcomers would do well to read the previous book in the series first, but Ramsay quickly establishes the main players. Either way, The Sideman’s unrelenting twists will leave you breathless.