This thrilling police-procedural debut from crime writer Gillian Galbraith introduces readers to Alice Rice, Edinburgh's latest fictional detective and a new female presence in the macho world of crime detection. Galbraith draws on her own experience to give a realistic portrayal of the medical and legal worlds. Smart and capable, but battling disillusionment and loneliness, Alice races against time and an implacable killer to solve a series of grisly murders amongst the professional elite of Edinburgh's well-to-do New Town.
Blood in the Water, Gillian Galbraith
Okay, I've said it before, and I'll say it again, what DO they put in the water supply in Scotland. Or maybe it's because of the notoriously dire weather - people are indoors and a percentage of them turn to writing. Don't know. But whatever it is, I hope they keep it up as there are some terrific books coming out of there.
BLOOD IN THE WATER is the first Alice Rice mystery - the second WHERE THE SHADOW FALLS is now also available. In this debút, there's an interesting character being formed. She's a little sketchy in some places in this book, but in compensation there is a tricky plot with members of the professional elite - Barristers, Doctors, being murdered. There is an obvious killer connection, as similar styled notes are being left on the bodies, but the connection between all of the victims isn't immediately obvious.
A police procedural, BLOOD IN THE WATER features Alice Rice as a disillusioned cop. A loner not by choice, she has a nothing sort of a personal life and it worries her very much. Her relationships at work with her colleagues is better, and there are glimpses of an interesting team within this book. The plot of this book is nicely complicated by the search for a connection between the victim's and the way that Alice unearths it. There are some nice touches throughout the book that give a glimpse into the character of Alice, but in some places she's a bit sketchy, a bit ethereal. Possibly more may be revealed in the second book (or at least I hope it is as Alice is somebody who is interesting).
All in all, I really enjoyed this book - you have to cut it a little slack as it's a debút with a few faults, but a lot going for it. It's a good story in a mercifully tight and reasonably sized book, with a central character that is really going to be worthwhile catching up with again.