Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

With themes of loyalty, family, friendship and the nature of truth, this cold case meets current murder is perfectly plotted to bring the past and the present to life. On An Outgoing Tide tackles a cold case from the 70s in this multi stranded novel. As usual, Anderson and Costello work seamlessly to pick apart the subterfuge and misdirection of an old investigation which has bearing on a current murder investigation.
With skill Ramsay offers insight through the different narratives, but in such a way that the reader is always slightly off balance.
Thought provoking, chilling and mesmerising, Ramsay also manages to weave in the reality of Covid and its aftermath without making it dominant.
The twists and turns of this novel kept me on my toes and a few misdirection along the way led me down the wrong path. This is a tragic tale of bad decisions made for good reasons and lifetimes of silence, regret and guilt.
A well drafted character driven narrative that deserves each of the five stars I've given it.

#OnanOutgoingTide #NetGalley Whilst I di enjoy this book ( and I had read the previous book in this series), I felt it really struggled to be read as a standalone. There was so many references to things that had happened previously ( which I had either not read or forgotten) it was difficult to follow the plot at some points in the book. The story line was interesting at when the current action was happening it was easy to follow. This was the first book I have read that gives reference to COVID which was interesting. Some loose ends, particularly around Mulholland, which will hopefully be covered in the next book.

This is my first time reading a novel by Caro Ramsey and, therefore, I am joining DCI Anderson and DC Costello well into their series. I found that this didn’t detract from my enjoyment or ability to follow the story at all. On an Outgoing Tide has a complex, multifaceted plot with multidimensional characters who feel real. The issues are very real though couched in settings that may feel unfamiliar to some readers. The setting is present-day Glasgow, Scotland.

In what appears to become the primary plot line, an elderly man is killed viciously in his home in a small community. Why and Who are the usual questions but they become only the beginning questions. Anderson and Costello are pulled from one case to this because someone believes it is urgent and possibly linked to a 40+ year old cold case. Meanwhile, Anderson’s family is involved in a case which obviously began in an earlier book: a conman was involved with his wife and endangered their financial future. It is well explained and interesting to follow as it has become part of a much larger case. Similarly, the original case from which they are apparently to be removed continues in the loop for the officers and readers. And Costello’s elderly neighbor, for whom she has been buying groceries during lockdown, has apparently suffered a violent attack in her apartment. Costello discovered her.

So much happening, but managed so well that it does not overwhelm. All in all, a well done procedural which I recommend. 4*. I plan to read future books. Now to consider the previous books in the series.

A copy of this book was provided by Severn House through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This book, On an Outgoing Tide, is the twelfth in Caro Ramsay's Anderson & Costello mysteries and my third in the series. I dived in at book ten in The Sideman and followed this with book eleven, The Red, Red Snow.

On an Outgoing Tide is a splendid novel. Anthony Poole is the last person to see twenty-three-year-old medical student, Aasha Ariti alive. Aasha is out celebrating when she vanishes from outside a nightclub. DCI Colin Anderson and DI Costello begin investigating but are astonished to be pulled from the case and given the murder of Jimmy Pearcey to investigate instead - an eighty-one-year-old who was horrifically tortured before he died.

Set in Glasgow, with its mixture of clever plotting, suspense and the Scottish location this is an exhilarating read. The novel is told mostly from Anderson and Costello’s points of view. I really like their characters, particularly DI Costello with her snarky comments and antiseptic realism and I appreciated the cocktail of current events and nostalgia in this novel. The well-plotted narrative comes with a sizeable chunk of good twists leading the reader to make assumptions and there are some unexpected surprises. I am inspired to continue to read more from this series and accomplished author.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Severn House Publishers via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

When it rains, it pours! DCI Anderson and DI Costello are called to investigate when a woman's body is found floating on the outgoing tide. She's identified as Aasha Ariti and the prime suspect is Anthony Poole, the last person known to be seen with her.

But before the detectives can sink their teeth into this case, they're called away to investigate the murder of an elderly man in his home. The victim was in his 80's, known to be a loner. He's been obviously tortured.

As they start looking into the man's background, they discover a number of secrets ... the elderly gentleman was not as most people thought. They also find that his secrets are linked with an unsolved case from 40 years before.

Who would want this man dead .. and who is so enraged as to torture him for hours? And what is the connection to the very old, very cold case?

This is another excellent addition to a long standing series. Although 12th in the series, it is easily read as a stand alone. Each new addition seems to be better than the last. The detectives are solidly drawn and I enjoy how they relate to each other. I like how the blend of professional and personal is most appealing. It's well written, suspenseful from the first page and leads to an unexpected conclusion.

Many thanks to the author / Canongate Books / Severn House / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction/police procedural. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Another brilliant storyline from this outstanding author.

Life for DCI Anderson, DI Costello together with DS Mulholland and DC Wingate can never be described as dull! Several cases always seem to crop up at the same time, meaning that the team must always be in peak health, both in mind and body.

Aasha Ariti, reported missing by her frantic parents is found in the river and DCI Anderson and DI Costello must decide whether it was an accident or murder. It’s going to be a complicated case.

DI Costello had just returned home from the scene when she’s called by one of her elderly neighbours to investigate why her immediate neighbour is not responding to her bell. She discovers the old lady with a severe head injury. After she’s organised an ambulance, she searches the flat to see if she can find any emergency contacts details. Joanna Craig is traced as the daughter but she’s immediately hostile towards Costello and it soon transpires that she’s reported her and DC Wingate for stealing £10,000 her mother had kept in her flat.

This is a great distraction for both Costello and Wingate because a man’s body has been discovered in the village of Invernock. It’s a gruesome murder scene. The man had been tortured most horrifically. It’s going to take all four of the team to work out who the murderer is. They’re going to have to dig deep into the lives of three particular people to find out the truth.

Caro Ramsay’s writing is excellent. There’s always great banter between the four main characters. Anderson and Costello behave like an old married couple while Mulholland and Wingate are still polite but not above sharing their opinion or passing the odd comment where necessary. Unfortunately, Mulholland’s leg, damaged in a work-related incident, turns septic and we’re left at the end of the book not knowing whether he’ll survive.

Caro Ramsay, you’re a brilliant author. Thank you so much for creating this fantastic team and penning some very bizarre cases for us. I’d never have guessed who the murderer was. Please hurry with the next book to put me out of my misery – can Mulholland survive the devastating attack of sepsis?

Rony

Elite Reviewing Group received a copy of the book to review.

The characters are welcoming and the plot interestingly odd. With 2 separate cases and a cast of possible killers this one keeps you on your toes
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review

This is the best installment I read in this series so far.
It's complex, dark and it mixes past and present events making you wonder sometimes but always keeping you on your toes.
The plot is fast paced, tightly knitted and the ending is very interesting. Great character development and I appreciated as the author created some very unlikable and realistic character
I read this book a month after I had to put to sleep two of my cats and some scenes were very emotional at least for me (nothing gritty or cruel, just memories).
It's strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

DCI Colin Anderson and Di Freddie Costello have two murders on their hands- or is it three? They are working the case of Asha Ariti, found in the Firth of Clyde, when they are sent to the torture murder scene of Jimmy Pearcey. The 81 year old was rumored to be a pedophile which explodes on social media, especially since he had been living under an alias. Then they find a link to a very old murder. Are these cases linked? Was the murder of Ariti, out on the town for the first time since the COVID lockdown, a hate crime? No spoilers from me. This is a nicely complex procedural with a good pair of detectives who are new to me. If you, like me, haven't read the earlier books, you'll find Ramsay has provided enough info to get you going. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

Wow... have we really got to book 12 in this series starring DCI Colin Anderson and DI Costello. And with not one sign of flagging either. Usual series rules apply, not for the main story as this is self contained, more for the main characters' backstories which are, in themselves, rather complex.
There are two main threads running through this book. The disappearance of a young mixed-raced woman after a night out and the death of an old man, a rather nasty one. All set rather cleverly during the current pandemic, just after the first lockdown ended, and using it, and the way it has affected people, rather well throughout as plot points. Very very well done and, unlike the majority of authors who are setting their books in the days before and after with maybe just a nod to it, an incredibly brave and novel thing. Kudos for the author for that.
Anderson and Costello start on the case of the missing woman but as that takes a turn towards an obvious conclusion are switched to the death of the old man, discovered by the man who had been doing his shopping and stuff whilst he was shielding. The case then starts to go firmly in one direction as it suddenly starts to become apparent that our intrepid duo need to go way back in time - more than 40 years - to the solved murder of the wife of a then serving officer.
And so begins a rather convoluted tale, the surface of which I have barely scratched here for fear of spoilers, but a tale that gripped me start to finish as well as confusing the heck out of me along the way until it all came together rather neatly and satisfyingly at the end.
With regard to the missing woman, well, all I can say there is that it turned out to be something so unavoidable but sadly more and more prevalent these days.
This series has to be one of my favourites and has never disappointed. This book continues this trend admirably, so much so that the only bad thing was when I got the the end and had to say farewell to the characters until next time. Hopefully not too long a wait til then.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Caro Ramsay is surely one of the big four of Scottish crime fiction writers - alongside Val McDermid, Ian Rankin and Stuart MacBride. Anderson and Costello are compelling lead characters, with strong back stories developed over a dozen novels.
The Peacocks, three young men who will be bound together for four decades by secrets and murder. Now, they have been threatened with vigilantism, mob violence and ritual castration.
A clever, complex plot. Gritty and engaging.

This is book 12 in the Anderson and Costello series but can be read as a stand alone. The two detectives work well together, with one complimenting the other in this cold case investigation, although it starts off as a murder investigation. I really like the character development and the insight into the personal lives of the team. The plot is complex but interesting and kept me engrossed to the end. I would recommend this series, from one of my favourite authors, to lovers of crime thrillers. It's an easy 5* from me. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

The latest in Caro Ramsay's Glasgow based crime series, featuring DCI Colin Anderson and DI Costello, has her brilliant trademark of complex and intricate plotting with multiple threads that often connect in surprising ways, and which requires patience and the need to pay close attention from the reader. There are continuing developments in her central characters, both professionally and personally, with the long history in the relationship between Anderson and Costello reflected in the ease of their interactions, banter and occasional bickering. It all begins with the fishing out of a dead body from the River Clyde, the missing 23 year old Asian medical student, Aasha Ariti, for whom they have a suspect, Anthony Poole, a dental student, the last person known to have been with her outside a nightclub.

To their complete surprise, Anderson and Costello are taken off the politically sensitive case by boss Detective Chief Superintendent Warburton, to a investigation where an 81 year old elderly man, Jimmy Pearcey, has been horrifically tortured and murdered in his attic, with reels of films playing. He was discovered by Dennis Macmillan, a church volunteer who had been doing Pearcey's shopping in the pandemic and lockdown. It appears that Pearcey was a paedophile, but little is as it appears in this brutally gruesome murder that have the police looking at a historical 40 year old case, the murder of mother Birdie, married to Frankie Scanlon, a Glasgow Murder Squad police officer and one of The Peacocks, the famous dancing and style icons of the 1950s and 1960s. Anderson and Costello, along with DC Gordon Wyngate and DS Vik Mulholland find themselves almost buried by the dusty lorry load of cold case files that fill their office as they untangle old mysteries, secrets and hunt a murderer active in the past and the present.

Costello finds herself immersed in her own drama as one of her neighbours she had done the shopping for under the spread of Covid 19, the elderly Mrs Crais, is found with serious injuries, a case of no good deed goes unpunished as she tracks down Mrs Crais's daughter, Joanna. Anderson's wife, Brenda, has lost her confidence after previous events concerning a conman, there is a forensic accountant following the financial trail. This is a fantastic addition to one of my favourite crime series, portraying a Glasgow after the first pandemic lockdown, Ramsay shows absolutely no sign of running out of steam as she highlights the ills of social media and the pressures young women face when the cause of Aasha's death is revealed. As always, I am left anticipating with eagerness the next in the series. Highly recommended to crime and mystery aficionados. Many thanks to Severn House for an ARC.

I must admit that when I requested this novel, I was not aware that it was twelfth in a series. That said, this can easily be read as a standalone novel and I do not think that I struggled with any back story in the slightest.

I enjoyed a new set of Scottish detectives and found that the dialect and the storyline was very intriguing and pulled me in.

This is a great book and I have added the previous 11 to my Wishlist.

On an Outgoing Tide by Caro Ramsay is the twelfth book in the Anderson and Costello series. I’ve only read two prior books in the series, but was still able to enjoy the book. DCI Anderson and DI Costello are detectives in Glasgow, Scotland and are on the scene when the body of a murdered medical student is pulled from the river. However, their boss pulls the detectives from this case and assigns them to the murder of an elderly man in his home. The case is delicate because the man is a suspected pedophile. They soon learn this case could be tied to a forty-year-old cold case and someone doesn’t want either case solved.

I like the way Anderson and Costello work together. Costello can be a bit brash, but she is very good at her job. Anderson is a good detective and a good leader for his team. Anderson has a very complicated personal life, some of which goes back to prior books. Enough information is given though so new readers will understand what’s going on. I also think there is a good balance between his personal life and the investigation in the book.The cold case and its relation to the current murder case is complex and at times a little confusing. However, overall I enjoyed the book and hope to read more in this series.

I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of Severn House. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

This is a series I’ve been dipping in & out of since I picked up book #1 in 2015. “Absolution” was an impressive debut & remains one of my faves along with “Tears of Angels”. Now I have another to add to that list. This is a cracking read that weaves together a horrific murder in the present with one from more than 40 years ago.

We’re back at Glasgow’s Partickhill station with DCI Anderson & DI Costello. They rose through the ranks together & the result is a synergistic partnership based on trust. Their latest investigation is one that will likely fuel a media frenzy. But before they get too comfortable, something strange happens. They’re taken off the case & ordered to check into the background of a local man. Huh? Who is this guy…a drug lord? gangster? politician? Nope, turns out he was an eccentric OAP named James Pearcey, recently found dead at home. The only one who might know what happened is Norma but she’s not talking. But then Norma is a dog so….. 🤷‍♀️

When Anderson & Costello approach boss “Toasty” Warburton for an explanation, he’s weirdly tight-lipped. All they are given is an empty out-of-the-way office filled with case files going back more than 40 years. And just so they don’t have to inhale all that dust alone, the long suffering DC Gordon Wingate & perpetually cranky DS Vik Mulholland join the party.

At this point I would normally add some tantalizing tidbits about the plot & hint at the twists that got me good. But I’m going to quit while I’m ahead for a couple of reasons. First, I live in fear of accidentally blurting out something spoilerish. Second, you really should go in with as little idea about the story line as possible to maximize the number of times you’ll mutter “ Ho-lee ______ “ (insert personal favourite) .

For those unfamiliar with this series, significant parts of previous books dealt with Anderson’s complicated personal life. It’s been quite a ride & clearly, still unresolved. But this book is more of a straight-up procedural which is the perfect choice. One of the current cases is connected to the murder of a housewife in 1978 & once these story lines get going, you would resent being pulled off them to deal with current day domestic drama. I was riveted by the story & characters that emerged from those dusty files. If Anderson & his crew want to find a killer in the present, they’ll have to understand exactly what happened decades ago to a woman named Birdie Summer.

Because the investigations are unique to this instalment, don’t worry if you haven’t read previous books. References to past events are brief & don’t impact the majority of the plot. These characters have been through a lot together & their relationships reflect that. There’s an ease & familiarity that shines through in the dialogue. They can be supportive & bicker like siblings in the same breath. They are all well defined but I’m particularly fond of Costello. Smart & intuitive, her ability to shoot from the lip provides an edgy humour in tense moments.

This is a compelling read that truly keeps you guessing til the final pages. And as an added bonus, it gave me one of the strongest contenders ever for my annual COTY Award *. Congratulations to Sandy Muir, a character so icky that just typing his name right now makes me want to wash my hands. Again.


(*Creep of the Year Award, fictional)

I anticipate each new book from Caro Ramsay with an eagerness that is quite shameful! The Anderson and Costello series sits up there in the top Scottish crime fiction platform and On an Outgoing Tide did not disappoint me at all! That oh so intriguing and deliciously dark prologue just had me diving into the darkness and kept me there until the very last page. I already knew from the blurb that a past event features in this novel and could only guess at what the prologue might hint at.
Did I mention that I love this series featuring Detectives Anderson and Costello? If not, well guess what, I LOVE IT! This is the 12th in the series and you can read it as a standalone but I really would recommend reading them all to get the full experience. Plus it’s a damn good series and you are missing out if you don’t read it.
Caro Ramsay never goes for the simple, the plots are exceptionally complex and the dynamics between characters even more so. As such I always know that I’m in for an immersive and compelling read. It’s so easy to get drawn into the storylines, to try and solve the case alongside the characters and to marvel at how the author manages to bring so many seemingly unrelated strands together. (PS I never beat the detectives in Caro’s books!) It is also indicative of just how dark and twisted the inner workings of Caro Ramsay’s mind are!
Its post lockdown and DCI Colin Anderson and DI Costello are at the River Clyde watching the body of a young woman being recovered. Contemporary issues of the pandemic are referenced but they don’t bog the storyline down.
The setting is sublime as always, Caro has a real knack of drawing you into her pages, to the scenes and the location. She paints an authentic picture and I always enjoy the familiarity of my hometown in her writing.
Her characters are dynamite and Costello has a caustic tongue that would cut you in two while Anderson appears to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders but still they both gel together and complement each other perfectly; And of course there are a few well known faces throughout, Wyngate and Mullholland both feature, and in this book we really do get a sense of just how much of a family unit this team of detectives really are, sometimes a little bit dysfunctional but always a family!
Caro is never afraid to criticise systems and society and in this she has a poke at the negative impact social media can have on the lives of others. At times it makes for an uncomfortable read but an absorbing one at the same time. She makes you work for your read, twists and turns, an array of characters, relationships and devious little subplots, yet she knits them together quite perfectly at the end, leaving you feeling satisfied and somewhat disturbed! Ticks all my boxes every single time!
Review going up on my blog (chapterinmylife)

A new case for Scottish police pairing of the very individual Anderson and Costello. When a young woman is pulled from the River Clyde, the detectives suspect she was murdered by her former boyfriend. Then Costello finds her elderly neighbor Vera from her apartment block with a serious head wound, and it looks like someone tried to rob her. Meanwhile the detectives are called to a brutal murder scene where a man has been tortured to death in his attic. With their hands already full,, Anderson and Costello are reassigned by their boss, who seems to know something they don't, to investigate a 40-year-old murder. It's a complex, fast moving and dramatic plot but well worth staying the course as the various strands come together. Always gritty, always thought-provoking, this latest Caro Ramsay title is one of her best. Compelling, and not always comfortable, reading.

Well done, disturbing read. It has too many issues I don't like reading about., so I can't give it a five star rating. However, as disturbing as it was I still had to finish it.