Wow atmospheric dark gripping and brilliant. The author brings the characters and places in the book to life ,you feel like you are living it with them . It was my first book by this author but it won't be the last

This is a story about three couples. Derek (20 years his wife's senior) & Mackenzie; Gavin (Mackenzie's brother) & Monica; Blair & Adele (Mackenzie's sister) are all main players.

Mackenzie and Derek have problems - he is controlling and she is an alcoholic. In a bid to ease marriage troubles, Derek takes Mackenzie to lunch in Glasgow. After lunch, a man across the street waves at Mackenzie. Derek notices and makes a comment. He has jealousy issues and figures this man may be the reason that Mackenzie goes out at night.

At Adele's birthday party, Mackenzie says one minute that the guy (from the street in Glasgow) is stalking her and the next that she is in love with him. Huh. Actually there is a rift in all three of the marriages. It is even hinted that Blair may be having an affair with Mackenzie. Too bad this party even had to "happen".

Mackenzie has a puzzling "affair" with someone named "Alec" .

Later, Mackenzie is kidnapped and subsequently abused. She figures that it is money that the kidnapper
wants and knows that Derek can supply this. But she is wrong. The police are brought into the picture and find out that Mackenzie was well-liked and that Derek "too old" and too controlling.

Eventually, Mackenzie makes two valiant efforts to escape (but fails). Finally, it is Derek and Gavin who follow the kidnapper, and nab him. DI Geddes finds out who the kidnapper is.

Mackenzie and her abductor are both rushed to the hospital and that is when the reader finally begins to see the truths (and non-truths ) unravel.....

Clever book with great character development.
Good, quick read.

Many Thanks to Bloodhound Books and netGalley for a really great read!

In Harm's Way doesn't make it as a thriller. There is no suspense or thrills until near the end, a brief car chase. The story is mainly a description of three dysfunctional families, destroying themselves. Scenes intended to be horror only show cruelty, but fail to evoke a feeling of dread. The self-flagellation of the characters continues ad nauseam.

The frequency of cliches and similes is astounding, assumedly to capture the dialog of everyday Scots, but eventually they become intrusive and artificial.