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Narey & Winter #2
Snapshot
A blistering thriller from acclaimed author Craig Robertson about a vigilante killer with revenge on his mind—and an entire city in his sights—for fans of Stuart MacBride.
A series of shootings by a lone sniper leaves Glasgow terrorized and the media in afrenzy. Who is behind the executions of some of the most notorious criminals in the city? As the body count rises—including those of police officers and innocent members of the public—the authorities realize they have a vigilante on their hands.
Police photographer Tony Winter has seen more than his fair share of dead bodies. So when he notices a detail in one of his negatives that the forensic team has missed—something that seems to link the sniper’s victims with the case of a badly beaten schoolboy—he launches an investigation of his own.
Meanwhile, DS Rachel Narey is reeling after being transferred from the sniper case onto a seemingly routine inquiry into the death of a prostitute. But she can’t help but notice how every lead draws her back to the sniper.
As Winter and Narey delve deeper, their quest for the truth will lead them both down increasingly dark and dangerous paths…
A series of shootings by a lone sniper leaves Glasgow terrorized and the media in afrenzy. Who is behind the executions of some of the most notorious criminals in the city? As the body count rises—including those of police officers and innocent members of the public—the authorities realize they have a vigilante on their hands.
Police photographer Tony Winter has seen more than his fair share of dead bodies. So when he notices a detail in one of his negatives that the forensic team has missed—something that seems to link the sniper’s victims with the case of a badly beaten schoolboy—he launches an investigation of his own.
Meanwhile, DS Rachel Narey is reeling after being transferred from the sniper case onto a seemingly routine inquiry into the death of a prostitute. But she can’t help but notice how every lead draws her back to the sniper.
As Winter and Narey delve deeper, their quest for the truth will lead them both down increasingly dark and dangerous paths…
464 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2011
31 people are currently reading
361 people want to read
About the author
Craig Robertson
37 books250 followersDuring his 20-year career with a Scottish Sunday newspaper, Craig Robertson has interviewed three recent Prime Ministers; attended major stories including 9/11, Dunblane, the Omagh bombing and the disappearance of Madeleine McCann; been pilloried on breakfast television, beaten Oprah Winfrey to a major scoop, been among the first to interview Susan Boyle, spent time on Death Row in the USA and dispensed polio drops in the backstreets of India.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
October 4, 2022
This is the second in the Narey and Winter series. The first novel, “Random,” was an odd beginning to a series, as Tony Winter did not appear at all, while Rachel Narey was peripheral to the storyline.
In a sense, this, second book, is more traditional, but, in other ways, it continues the author’s very different approach to crime fiction, looking at things from the viewpoints of the slightly outcast, with a sideways perspective. It begins in a traditional, Tartan Noir way – a stabbing in a Glasgow market, the murder of a young prostitute. Both victims on the margins of society, involved in petty crime and drugs. However, crime is soon going to offer something far more exciting, on the streets of Glasgow, even if the victims elicit little sympathy. Someone is killing gangsters, publicly and violently. A sniper, picking off those involved in organised crime around the city.
Tony Winter is a police photographer, who is secretly involved with Rachel Narey. Not that either of them need to hide their relationship, but Narey prefers to keep her personal, and professional, life separate. Winter is desperate to be involved with the sniper killings, as his professional and personal desires coincide. He is a photographer obsessed with death, the more violent the better. His obvious pleasure in photographing the victims of the shootings is slightly twisted and yet, oddly, Winter is generally a likeable character. Meanwhile, Narey finds herself sidelined to the investigation into the murder of the young prostitute.
There are so many great crime writers coming out of Scotland at the moment, and I am enjoying discovering new authors, and new books. Robertston is a compelling author, whose books are dark, slightly twisted and yet peopled by characters you come to care about. I look forward to reading on in the series.
In a sense, this, second book, is more traditional, but, in other ways, it continues the author’s very different approach to crime fiction, looking at things from the viewpoints of the slightly outcast, with a sideways perspective. It begins in a traditional, Tartan Noir way – a stabbing in a Glasgow market, the murder of a young prostitute. Both victims on the margins of society, involved in petty crime and drugs. However, crime is soon going to offer something far more exciting, on the streets of Glasgow, even if the victims elicit little sympathy. Someone is killing gangsters, publicly and violently. A sniper, picking off those involved in organised crime around the city.
Tony Winter is a police photographer, who is secretly involved with Rachel Narey. Not that either of them need to hide their relationship, but Narey prefers to keep her personal, and professional, life separate. Winter is desperate to be involved with the sniper killings, as his professional and personal desires coincide. He is a photographer obsessed with death, the more violent the better. His obvious pleasure in photographing the victims of the shootings is slightly twisted and yet, oddly, Winter is generally a likeable character. Meanwhile, Narey finds herself sidelined to the investigation into the murder of the young prostitute.
There are so many great crime writers coming out of Scotland at the moment, and I am enjoying discovering new authors, and new books. Robertston is a compelling author, whose books are dark, slightly twisted and yet peopled by characters you come to care about. I look forward to reading on in the series.
September 26, 2024
Whereas Random, the first novel in this series focused on Detective Sergeant Rachel Narey, this one has police photographer Tony Winter in the main role. Rachel and Tony are romantically involved, although keep their relationship secret for professional reasons.
Glasgow is being terrorised by a lone sniper and his targets are some of the city’s most infamous criminals. The media soon give him the moniker The Dark Angel and only thinly disguise their opinion that he is a hero vigilante doing what the police, so far, have failed to do.
This is an investigation Rachel Narey is keen to be a part of, however, much to her chagrin, she is assigned the seemingly routine case of a murdered prostitute. However, it soon becomes obvious to her that somehow this murder is linked to the sniper case.
Unbeknownst to the police, Winter is conducting his own investigation when he realises a couple of missing details in his photographs.
In some ways this novel reminded me of Robert Pobi’s City Of Windows, although this novel was written several years before that. It is a well-constructed story with some memorable characters which keeps one guessing right until the end.
Glasgow is being terrorised by a lone sniper and his targets are some of the city’s most infamous criminals. The media soon give him the moniker The Dark Angel and only thinly disguise their opinion that he is a hero vigilante doing what the police, so far, have failed to do.
This is an investigation Rachel Narey is keen to be a part of, however, much to her chagrin, she is assigned the seemingly routine case of a murdered prostitute. However, it soon becomes obvious to her that somehow this murder is linked to the sniper case.
Unbeknownst to the police, Winter is conducting his own investigation when he realises a couple of missing details in his photographs.
In some ways this novel reminded me of Robert Pobi’s City Of Windows, although this novel was written several years before that. It is a well-constructed story with some memorable characters which keeps one guessing right until the end.
February 24, 2019
This is the second in the Narey and Winter series. The first novel, “Random,” was an odd beginning to a series, as Tony Winter did not appear at all, while Rachel Narey was peripheral to the storyline.
In a sense, this, second book, is more traditional, but, in other ways, it continues the author’s very different approach to crime fiction, looking at things from the viewpoints of the slightly outcast, with a sideways perspective. It begins in a traditional, Tartan Noir way – a stabbing in a Glasgow market, the murder of a young prostitute. Both victims on the margins of society, involved in petty crime and drugs. However, crime is soon going to offer something far more exciting, on the streets of Glasgow, even if the victims elicit little sympathy. Someone is killing gangsters, publicly and violently. A sniper, picking off those involved in organised crime around the city.
Tony Winter is a police photographer, who is secretly involved with Rachel Narey. Not that either of them need to hide their relationship, but Narey prefers to keep her personal, and professional, life separate. Winter is desperate to be involved with the sniper killings, as his professional and personal desires coincide. He is a photographer obsessed with death, the more violent the better. His obvious pleasure in photographing the victims of the shootings is slightly twisted and yet, oddly, Winter is generally a likeable character. Meanwhile, Narey finds herself sidelined to the investigation into the murder of the young prostitute.
There are so many great crime writers coming out of Scotland at the moment, and I am enjoying discovering new authors, and new books. Robertston is a compelling author, whose books are dark, slightly twisted and yet peopled by characters you come to care about. I look forward to reading on in the series.
In a sense, this, second book, is more traditional, but, in other ways, it continues the author’s very different approach to crime fiction, looking at things from the viewpoints of the slightly outcast, with a sideways perspective. It begins in a traditional, Tartan Noir way – a stabbing in a Glasgow market, the murder of a young prostitute. Both victims on the margins of society, involved in petty crime and drugs. However, crime is soon going to offer something far more exciting, on the streets of Glasgow, even if the victims elicit little sympathy. Someone is killing gangsters, publicly and violently. A sniper, picking off those involved in organised crime around the city.
Tony Winter is a police photographer, who is secretly involved with Rachel Narey. Not that either of them need to hide their relationship, but Narey prefers to keep her personal, and professional, life separate. Winter is desperate to be involved with the sniper killings, as his professional and personal desires coincide. He is a photographer obsessed with death, the more violent the better. His obvious pleasure in photographing the victims of the shootings is slightly twisted and yet, oddly, Winter is generally a likeable character. Meanwhile, Narey finds herself sidelined to the investigation into the murder of the young prostitute.
There are so many great crime writers coming out of Scotland at the moment, and I am enjoying discovering new authors, and new books. Robertston is a compelling author, whose books are dark, slightly twisted and yet peopled by characters you come to care about. I look forward to reading on in the series.
November 29, 2011
My review:
I have quite mixed feelings about Snapshot. It was a very good thriller sending some chills down through the spine but it was also very dark book.
I have read many thrillers, but Snapshot stood out with couple of unusual aspects in his books. Firstly, the main character was not a police officer, but a police photographer, which definitely gave a different narrative to his books and secondly, it was quite macabre in its details and descriptions. Sometimes I had to put the book away while reading, because the descriptions got too much for my taste. I am not with the weak heart when it comes to reading thrillers, so here is a warning, if you are touchy and feely about reading the color of the blood, detailed and colorfully described shot holes and missing or broken body parts, smells from the morgue and the bodies - it’s going to be difficult for you to finish the book.
I have mixed feelings because the story was very good, there were some good surprises and I really enjoyed experiencing the plot through the eyes of photographer. At the same time, sometimes the descriptions slowed down the pace of the book. It was interesting to read and it really lived up to its genre – being a thriller. It was macabre and a dark story.
Regarding the plot:
Meet Tony Winter, a police photographer who is included into the investigation of several murders. The killings start with murders of two drug lords in Glasgow. Both of the drug lords are shot by a sniper. Tony sees details what the forensic team has missed and starts his own investigation after his friend Addison is getting shot. His investigation takes him to darker places than even he imagined. Step by step he comes closer to the guilty ones, but it also get more and more dangerous for him and to other people he cares about.
The plot was interesting and captivating, but due to the macabre details it took me more time to read than usually. There were couple of times when I had to put the book away, it got too painful ad too disgusting to read. I kept reading due to very good plot.
What disturbed me a little was that while I understood the motives of the bad guy to do these crimes, I was missing the deeper understanding of how this could happen and how come the police did not see that the murderer could be from inside? Maybe the idea was to show that in case the system fails, there is a danger that someone would take the law in their own hands.
Regarding the characters:
I think that the author Craig Robertson did a good job with the characters, especially main characters.
I liked Tony even though his macabre interest in blood and in death is something I personally cannot relate to. Neither could I relate to his eagerness to be included into the team who investigated probably the worst and ugliest crimes in Glasgow’s history – I actually lost track of the body count while reading, but I think there were 14 bodies involved. It seemed odd and even sick for me. But I still liked him because he also had many other sides of him. He was caring, curious, good friend and had a good eye into details, which was vital to solve the crimes and to find out who was behind these murder cases.
Rachel was probably the character I felt closer to. She was smart, ambitious and intelligent. She was not a typical hard kick-ass police woman with the bad mouth, what you often find in suspense books, but she had other good treats about her. Rachel was my favorite character in Snapshot.
I was surprised about who was behind most of the murders, but not because he was an insider, but because his character seemed weak. It felt like he was thrown to the plot to be the guilty without giving any prior information about him. I would have liked to know him more. As said, I can to some extent understand his motives, but WHAT triggered them – that was not explained well enough. I would have wanted more information about his personality and/or his personality issues.
Generally:
Snapshot by Craig Robertson had its strong sides – the narrative and the plot were good, most of the characters believable, it definitely was an interesting thriller to read. At the same time, there were aspects which I did not like, which disturbed me.
3 stars.
Thanks goes to Simon & Schuster UK for providing me paperback copy for reviewing!
I have quite mixed feelings about Snapshot. It was a very good thriller sending some chills down through the spine but it was also very dark book.
I have read many thrillers, but Snapshot stood out with couple of unusual aspects in his books. Firstly, the main character was not a police officer, but a police photographer, which definitely gave a different narrative to his books and secondly, it was quite macabre in its details and descriptions. Sometimes I had to put the book away while reading, because the descriptions got too much for my taste. I am not with the weak heart when it comes to reading thrillers, so here is a warning, if you are touchy and feely about reading the color of the blood, detailed and colorfully described shot holes and missing or broken body parts, smells from the morgue and the bodies - it’s going to be difficult for you to finish the book.
I have mixed feelings because the story was very good, there were some good surprises and I really enjoyed experiencing the plot through the eyes of photographer. At the same time, sometimes the descriptions slowed down the pace of the book. It was interesting to read and it really lived up to its genre – being a thriller. It was macabre and a dark story.
Regarding the plot:
Meet Tony Winter, a police photographer who is included into the investigation of several murders. The killings start with murders of two drug lords in Glasgow. Both of the drug lords are shot by a sniper. Tony sees details what the forensic team has missed and starts his own investigation after his friend Addison is getting shot. His investigation takes him to darker places than even he imagined. Step by step he comes closer to the guilty ones, but it also get more and more dangerous for him and to other people he cares about.
The plot was interesting and captivating, but due to the macabre details it took me more time to read than usually. There were couple of times when I had to put the book away, it got too painful ad too disgusting to read. I kept reading due to very good plot.
What disturbed me a little was that while I understood the motives of the bad guy to do these crimes, I was missing the deeper understanding of how this could happen and how come the police did not see that the murderer could be from inside? Maybe the idea was to show that in case the system fails, there is a danger that someone would take the law in their own hands.
Regarding the characters:
I think that the author Craig Robertson did a good job with the characters, especially main characters.
I liked Tony even though his macabre interest in blood and in death is something I personally cannot relate to. Neither could I relate to his eagerness to be included into the team who investigated probably the worst and ugliest crimes in Glasgow’s history – I actually lost track of the body count while reading, but I think there were 14 bodies involved. It seemed odd and even sick for me. But I still liked him because he also had many other sides of him. He was caring, curious, good friend and had a good eye into details, which was vital to solve the crimes and to find out who was behind these murder cases.
Rachel was probably the character I felt closer to. She was smart, ambitious and intelligent. She was not a typical hard kick-ass police woman with the bad mouth, what you often find in suspense books, but she had other good treats about her. Rachel was my favorite character in Snapshot.
I was surprised about who was behind most of the murders, but not because he was an insider, but because his character seemed weak. It felt like he was thrown to the plot to be the guilty without giving any prior information about him. I would have liked to know him more. As said, I can to some extent understand his motives, but WHAT triggered them – that was not explained well enough. I would have wanted more information about his personality and/or his personality issues.
Generally:
Snapshot by Craig Robertson had its strong sides – the narrative and the plot were good, most of the characters believable, it definitely was an interesting thriller to read. At the same time, there were aspects which I did not like, which disturbed me.
3 stars.
Thanks goes to Simon & Schuster UK for providing me paperback copy for reviewing!
March 20, 2017
There is something comforting about a novel set in your home town as you recognise the places, references and the way of speaking or as we say up here the patter. Having read Random I was ready to like this book before I started but it has surpassed my expectations. The plot is the hunt for whoever is killing drug dealers and it has a few twists I didn't see coming and I doubt you will either. It is clever and very tightly plotted. The characterisation is very good and lifelike, although Tony Winter and his obsession with photographing dead bodies, his girlfriend calls it necrophotographilia, is decidedly creepy but apart from that he seems like a good guy. The humour is very Glaswegian and seems very natural to me. This is well worth a read.
February 16, 2021
Book two in the series, or book five for me as I continue to read this in some ridiculous order... It definitely works as a stand alone story - the only thing that muddled me up a bit from previous reads was the relationships between some of the characters.
You can tell it's an earlier one - the writing feels a little less polished. I swear as he was writing this he must've had a thesaurus open to the entry for 'red' the whole time. There was also a bit of an inconsistent tone throughout. None more so than the climatic chase scene where it was apparently time for people to start making jokes, checking out each other's arses, and having really long detailed conversations, all while running after a murderer at full speed. Hmm.
When it was good it was good. Some of the gory/gross scenes were super graphic and fun to read, the vigilante angle was interesting, and the first time we entered the alley on Jamaica Street was genuinely really creepy and tense. But then it was let down by the conclusion to the main story feeling pretty bolted on and unsatisfying.
You can tell it's an earlier one - the writing feels a little less polished. I swear as he was writing this he must've had a thesaurus open to the entry for 'red' the whole time. There was also a bit of an inconsistent tone throughout. None more so than the climatic chase scene where it was apparently time for people to start making jokes, checking out each other's arses, and having really long detailed conversations, all while running after a murderer at full speed. Hmm.
When it was good it was good. Some of the gory/gross scenes were super graphic and fun to read, the vigilante angle was interesting, and the first time we entered the alley on Jamaica Street was genuinely really creepy and tense. But then it was let down by the conclusion to the main story feeling pretty bolted on and unsatisfying.
June 25, 2011
“You were more likely to be murdered in Glasgow than in any other city in Western Europe.”
Police photographer Tony Winter has always been fascinated by accidents and murderous occasions, so he is excited by the opportunity to chronicle the deaths of some of Glasgow’s crime bosses, shot by a vigilante sniper. DS Rachel Narey, on the other hand, is miffed to have been removed from the sniper case to solve the murder of a prostitute, but keeps being drawn back to the sniper case.
I had to give up on this one – I made it through to 100 pages but only because that’s my rule. The language was intolerably foul – 6 or 7 expletives per page, apparently just to convey how hard/angry/drunk the speakers were. It seemed very lazy – a way to darken the book and make it edgier without any actual character development.
Some of the writing seemed careless – when much emphasis is laid on how cold and dank the weather is, why have a protagonist called Winter? I was momentarily confused with embarrassing frequency! I found the romantic sub-plot (or at least, connection) lazy – there didn’t really seem to be a need to have the female policeman shack up with the police photographer, the author just wanted to have an opportunity to write about how hot she was.
I did not enjoy this at all – far too dark and menacing, but without any interesting characters (you can’t tell me that Larsson’s The Girl… series isn’t dark or menacing). I’ll be asking for less invective-laden novels.
Police photographer Tony Winter has always been fascinated by accidents and murderous occasions, so he is excited by the opportunity to chronicle the deaths of some of Glasgow’s crime bosses, shot by a vigilante sniper. DS Rachel Narey, on the other hand, is miffed to have been removed from the sniper case to solve the murder of a prostitute, but keeps being drawn back to the sniper case.
I had to give up on this one – I made it through to 100 pages but only because that’s my rule. The language was intolerably foul – 6 or 7 expletives per page, apparently just to convey how hard/angry/drunk the speakers were. It seemed very lazy – a way to darken the book and make it edgier without any actual character development.
Some of the writing seemed careless – when much emphasis is laid on how cold and dank the weather is, why have a protagonist called Winter? I was momentarily confused with embarrassing frequency! I found the romantic sub-plot (or at least, connection) lazy – there didn’t really seem to be a need to have the female policeman shack up with the police photographer, the author just wanted to have an opportunity to write about how hot she was.
I did not enjoy this at all – far too dark and menacing, but without any interesting characters (you can’t tell me that Larsson’s The Girl… series isn’t dark or menacing). I’ll be asking for less invective-laden novels.
April 3, 2016
Just finished the 2nd of Craig Robertson's Tony Winters series.
Someone is finishing off Glasgows 'big men'. The city's top gangsters are on edge and the police have no idea who is behind the killings, the press are turning the killer into a hero for ridding the streets of the vermin.
Tony Winters, Police Photographer, is caught up in the investigation but does the man behind the camera have a better handle on the case than the police?
Snapshot is gritty, grim and fast paced. Takes you through a journey of Glasgow that the tourists may not want to know about. The grim realities of gangland living and death - grabs you at every turn - and I found out a wee bit about the city below a city that I never knew about before!
A belter of a book and 5 stars from me!
Someone is finishing off Glasgows 'big men'. The city's top gangsters are on edge and the police have no idea who is behind the killings, the press are turning the killer into a hero for ridding the streets of the vermin.
Tony Winters, Police Photographer, is caught up in the investigation but does the man behind the camera have a better handle on the case than the police?
Snapshot is gritty, grim and fast paced. Takes you through a journey of Glasgow that the tourists may not want to know about. The grim realities of gangland living and death - grabs you at every turn - and I found out a wee bit about the city below a city that I never knew about before!
A belter of a book and 5 stars from me!
March 19, 2017
Bloody brilliant. I love a novel set in Glasgow anyway but this one definitely delivers the goods on all accounts.
July 4, 2018
After reading "Random" (which I absolutely loved so much I wrote Craig Robertson to tell him), I had high hopes for "Snapshot". However, I found it very hard to get into. I'm not sure I liked Tony Winter, and I really don't much like Rachel Narey. Addy, however, I did like. And it is hard to read a series when you don't like the main characters.
The fact Tony Winter is a police photographer and not a detective is a different perspective. However, he has this macabre fascination with dead bodies that just isn't normal. It is almost creepy. He wants to be assigned the BIG cases with the most gruesome deaths so he can capture those moments, and he details it for the reader. He is incredibly eager to be involved in the team investigating the sniper shootings around Glasgow.
DS Rachel Narey is one of those "don't call me, I'll call you when I want you" kind of people. I found her annoying at times, when she thought Tony was trying to edge into the investigation. She is ambitious, which is probably another reason I didn't like her, as I'm not a fan of ambitious women. Maybe I have to read something else with these two in to see how I feel about them because I wasn't enamoured by them in this book. And I can't remember much of "Random" now - which Rachel Narey featured in - I just remembered I loved the book being from a different perspective I had read at that time.
I have to agree with another reviewer that the surprise was in who was behind the murders, not because of who he was but because his character was so weak. He wasn't really one of the main players. He wasn't one you would think of when reviewing the story. It felt like he was just thrown in. Maybe if there had been some more back story to this guy then it would be have been better. I wasn't surprised at all by it being an insider - I had worked that much out for myself long before Winter did - his character just needed more building throughout the course of the book, I feel.
Overall, "Snapshot" is a thrilling read. I did eventually get hooked but it took me a long time to do so...and I normally don't continue with books that take so long to get into. I think my biggest issue with the book was not the characters, but the topic - drug lords. They are everywhere and I am just not interested in them. I prefer something darker or random.
I was disappointed in this book especially the thrilling "Random", but it sufficed as readable. It is a macabre and dark story and definitely NOT for the fainthearted. If you don't like excessive blood and gruesome visceral detail of violent death then this book is not for you.
The fact Tony Winter is a police photographer and not a detective is a different perspective. However, he has this macabre fascination with dead bodies that just isn't normal. It is almost creepy. He wants to be assigned the BIG cases with the most gruesome deaths so he can capture those moments, and he details it for the reader. He is incredibly eager to be involved in the team investigating the sniper shootings around Glasgow.
DS Rachel Narey is one of those "don't call me, I'll call you when I want you" kind of people. I found her annoying at times, when she thought Tony was trying to edge into the investigation. She is ambitious, which is probably another reason I didn't like her, as I'm not a fan of ambitious women. Maybe I have to read something else with these two in to see how I feel about them because I wasn't enamoured by them in this book. And I can't remember much of "Random" now - which Rachel Narey featured in - I just remembered I loved the book being from a different perspective I had read at that time.
I have to agree with another reviewer that the surprise was in who was behind the murders, not because of who he was but because his character was so weak. He wasn't really one of the main players. He wasn't one you would think of when reviewing the story. It felt like he was just thrown in. Maybe if there had been some more back story to this guy then it would be have been better. I wasn't surprised at all by it being an insider - I had worked that much out for myself long before Winter did - his character just needed more building throughout the course of the book, I feel.
Overall, "Snapshot" is a thrilling read. I did eventually get hooked but it took me a long time to do so...and I normally don't continue with books that take so long to get into. I think my biggest issue with the book was not the characters, but the topic - drug lords. They are everywhere and I am just not interested in them. I prefer something darker or random.
I was disappointed in this book especially the thrilling "Random", but it sufficed as readable. It is a macabre and dark story and definitely NOT for the fainthearted. If you don't like excessive blood and gruesome visceral detail of violent death then this book is not for you.
February 23, 2023
I have only recently discovered Craig Robertson and have much enjoyed the first two books of the Narey/winter series .There is a caution straight away - this book in particular comes within the genre of Scottish noir and it is very noir ,especially the side story of a murdered prostitute.
What I like about the books I have read so far is the twists - so in this one the main story is about a serial killer but he is targeting villains,bent police officers ,drug runners ,gang leaders etc.Also Winter ,the main character in this book is not a police officer but a police photographer who gets very involved.We are also introduced to Grahamston ,Glasgow’s fictional equivalent to Edinburgh’s Mary King Close dwellings beneath the city and very creepy .
Some of the characters are a bit two dimensional especially the main villain who does not convince but the plot develops at good pace and I look forward to reading more of this series
What I like about the books I have read so far is the twists - so in this one the main story is about a serial killer but he is targeting villains,bent police officers ,drug runners ,gang leaders etc.Also Winter ,the main character in this book is not a police officer but a police photographer who gets very involved.We are also introduced to Grahamston ,Glasgow’s fictional equivalent to Edinburgh’s Mary King Close dwellings beneath the city and very creepy .
Some of the characters are a bit two dimensional especially the main villain who does not convince but the plot develops at good pace and I look forward to reading more of this series
March 22, 2021
The second book in which I have read from this author.
Another great book by him that kept me intrigued and invested in the storyline and the characters. Fast paced, I was kept guessing over what was going to happen as well as drawn to the way that Winter feels about his photos. It's nice having a main character who isn't a copper while working for the police force.
Also it was good to be able to understand the dialog that the author used with the Scottish dialog, as a past author that I have read used some heavy accent's that made it hard to understand what the characters was saying and it took me away from the story. Thankfully Craig Robertson doesn't do that.
Another great book by him that kept me intrigued and invested in the storyline and the characters. Fast paced, I was kept guessing over what was going to happen as well as drawn to the way that Winter feels about his photos. It's nice having a main character who isn't a copper while working for the police force.
Also it was good to be able to understand the dialog that the author used with the Scottish dialog, as a past author that I have read used some heavy accent's that made it hard to understand what the characters was saying and it took me away from the story. Thankfully Craig Robertson doesn't do that.
November 28, 2023
I don't know if anyone else whose read Craig Robertson's books would agree but the amount of slang that he uses made it sometimes difficult to understand what was being said.
A lot of characters in this book, too many to remember and by the time I found out who the killer was, I couldn't place him in the storyline, early on.
This author sets his stories out in a very gritty, ugly, violent way. If you have the stomach for this sort of thing, then he's your man.
I've been to Scotland in the past but after reading some of Craig Robertson's books, I'll probably look at it differently the next time I visit.
A lot of characters in this book, too many to remember and by the time I found out who the killer was, I couldn't place him in the storyline, early on.
This author sets his stories out in a very gritty, ugly, violent way. If you have the stomach for this sort of thing, then he's your man.
I've been to Scotland in the past but after reading some of Craig Robertson's books, I'll probably look at it differently the next time I visit.
January 8, 2025
Whilst this is not as original as the first one it is still a very different read with a very different character in police photographer Tony Winter. This is gritty writing from Craig Robertson and you do get the sense of being on the mean streets of Glasgow. This is a gripping and hard hitting story focusing on inner city gangs which is well paced and well thought out. The culprit was slightly predictable but the author did throw in a couple of curve balls so still an excellent read. I do like the two leading characters but the star of the show for me was the wonderful DI Addison.
June 18, 2025
This is the second of the Narey / Winter series and watching the characters develop is a pleasure. However they are developing in the underbelly of Glasgow's criminal faternity where brutality is just part of life. The story revolves around the shootings of criminal gang heads and members with the newspapers secretly holding a candle for the sniper. Parts of the book made my stomach turn but like some voyeur I could not put the book down. I will look forward to the next book, with some trepidation!
May 9, 2017
The second book with Rachel Narey this time with police photographer Tony Winter solving the puzzle of a vigilante killing the drug lords and their soldiers in Glasgow. It is dark and atmospheric.Not for the fainthearted.Violent and keeps you turning pages till the very end. I am a succour for anything set in Glasgow though this is a grim picture of the underbelly of The Dear Green Place.
I really enjoyed it.
I really enjoyed it.
August 2, 2017
Well paced thriller set in the gritty environs of Glasgow. Lots of plot twists that keep the story fresh, but a few dull parts that seemed to drag on my interest.
It also contains, by far, the weirdest case of DNA identification I think anyone could ever dream up; although in the Acknowledgements section the author credits someone else for the idea. Makes me wonder if it is based on an actual person. If so, it proves that truth is stranger than fiction.
It also contains, by far, the weirdest case of DNA identification I think anyone could ever dream up; although in the Acknowledgements section the author credits someone else for the idea. Makes me wonder if it is based on an actual person. If so, it proves that truth is stranger than fiction.
December 30, 2017
A good, engrossing-enough read with one of the main characters being a police photographer with an obsession for photographing dead bodies (quite useful in his job!). Liked the characters & storyline & will certainly read more both in this series or by this author.
My only criticism was in parts it went a bit overboard on description, I did loose interest in how many different shades of red could be used to portray blood....
My only criticism was in parts it went a bit overboard on description, I did loose interest in how many different shades of red could be used to portray blood....
July 20, 2023
What a horrible ending on the prostitute substory!
Took me a while to get into this book I think because of what I’d just read; took time to readjust especially as the writing is very gritty and grey, which suits the Glaswegian setting!
Also was a bit icked by Winter’s obsession with death which does abate a tad when he explains about his parents.
When I started I told myself I wouldn’t be reading more of the series but I’ve now picked up more and looking forward to reading them.
Took me a while to get into this book I think because of what I’d just read; took time to readjust especially as the writing is very gritty and grey, which suits the Glaswegian setting!
Also was a bit icked by Winter’s obsession with death which does abate a tad when he explains about his parents.
When I started I told myself I wouldn’t be reading more of the series but I’ve now picked up more and looking forward to reading them.
January 12, 2020
Best looking woman on the force, great detective, not worried at all about dating a lad who is creepy about photographing death. In fact, all the hot women fancy him. Police photographer doesn't pass on any suggestions to detectives working the case because... well, no real reason.
June 12, 2017
A nice Rankinesque novel. The vigilante plot may be formulaic, but the Glasgow flavor and the semi-outsider POV of the antagonist - a police photographer - compensate entertainingly for this.
January 15, 2018
Really enjoyed this book! The pace is good, and it really sucks you in. It can get a little grim in areas - but I guess that’s to be expected in this genre.
Will definitely read more by this author!
Will definitely read more by this author!
March 29, 2018
Absolutely loved it, wish I'd found this author years ago
June 7, 2018
A really good book. Recommended.
June 20, 2018
Not necessarily as amazing as the first few I have read. This was of a much more familiar construction: the run-of-the-mill crime novel. Having said that, it was well-written and enjoyable.
July 12, 2018
Excellent book! Thoroughly enjoyed it right from the first page, really liking Craig Roberton's books, just about to start no.3!
July 26, 2018
4.5 stars
January 4, 2019
Better than Random with some unusual twists
April 20, 2019
Have now read 2 books by this author and character and plots good. However they are too dark for me. Other thrillers rate higher
August 24, 2019
Intriguing Glasgow murder mystery featuring police photographer Tony Winter, who knows a remarkable number of adjectives to describe the colour of blood.
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