In a famous Scottish town, someone is bent on murder – but why?On the night of a wedding celebration, one guest meets a grisly end when he’s killed in a hit-and-run. A card bearing the number ‘5’ has been placed on the victim’s chest. DI Clare Mackay, who recently moved from Glasgow to join the St Andrews force, leads the investigation. The following night another victim is struck down and a … victim is struck down and a number ‘4’ card is at the scene. Clare and her team realise they’re against the clock to find a killer stalking the streets of the picturesque Scottish town and bent on carrying out three more murders.
To prevent further deaths, the police have to uncover the link between the victims. But those involved have a lot more at stake than first meets the eye. If Clare wants to solve the case she must face her own past and discover the deepest secrets of the victims – and the killer.
Don’t miss the page-turning first novel in a gripping series featuring DI Clare Mackay, perfect for fans of Alex Gray, D. S. Butler and Rachel Amphlett.
Praise for See Them Run
‘All the ingredients of a cracking crime novel : a strong female lead with a dark backstory, a vivid sense of place, a rising body count and a twist you don’t see coming … A welcome addition to the Tartan Noir genre’ Claire Macleary, author of Cross Purpose
‘An original concept in police procedurals, See Them Run is suspense loaded from start to finish – and author Marion Todd couldn’t have delighted us more.’ I AM IN PRINT magazine
‘Marion Todd’s welcome addition to the genre feels like a breath of fresh, tartan noir air.’ Scottish Field
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First in a series featuring Detective Clare Mackay, who has moved from Glasgow to St. Andrews following a shooting incident. She’s adjusting to the repercussions from that as well as the breakup of her relationship, and now a serial killer is using a car as a weapon, taking hit-and-runs to outright murder. I really like this character and plan to read more of Todd’s books.
I enjoy finding new authors to read in a crowded crime market where there are more detectives with traumas than you can shake a stick at. Many of the police procedurals tread the same familiar territory without bringing anything new to the table. While See Them Run followed some familiar patterns, it was engaging and different enough to catch and maintain my interest.
It didn’t start that way, but drew me in after the first hit and run murder. The card with the number 5 on it suggested there was a serial killer at work. And sure enough, it wasn’t long before a second victim was found with a number 4 on the card. The countdown began.
DI Clare Mackay was an engaging lead character, who’d left her past behind in Glasgow, along with her boyfriend. Having swapped the mean streets for a rural idyll, she soon came under scrutiny from the Detective Chief Inspector called in to oversee the case. For a while it looked like another case of desk bound superior officer finding fault with the team, and Clare Mackay in particular. But as the story progressed they started working together and developed an understanding to solve the case.
With good support from the team, the detectives slowly unravelled the mystery and the motive behind the killings, leading to an exciting and satisfying climax.
Though the case followed familiar themes and motives, the plot was well-handled and intriguing enough to keep me turning the pages. The characters were realistic, engaging and drove the investigation along its twisting course. Clare Mackay came over as strong and determined, but vulnerable due to past events – a good mix with plenty of possibilities for the future.
I look forward to reading the next in the series.
Excellent murder drama set in Bonnie Scotland!
Author Marion Todd really knows how to string together a gripping crime drama. The criminal investigation remains the main thrust of the story, but the personal life of DI Clare MacKay is woven into the plot to just the right degree. I myself admit the Scottish setting drew me initially to the book but it was the seamless writing and escalating suspense of finding the murderer before another strike that kept me glued to the pages.
I want to read more by the author, hopefully including a continuation of Clare & co. in Bonnie Scotland. Sorry, St. Andrews, but if it takes a spate of violent crime in Fife to get more of Clare MacKay, you’ll have to deal with it!
Thanks to publisher Canelo and NetGalley for providing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.