I do love an Emma Christie book!
This one did not disappoint at all!
This book is a great psychological thriller which had me hooked and I read over a day (not often this happens these days!)
I really enjoyed the backstory to Dave and learning the way that things panned out. There were lots of twists and turns and the author takes the reader on a real rollercoaster

One lesson learnt. The past always comes back to haunt you!

A gripping Scottish thriller which is out now!

𝐄𝐦𝐦𝐚 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐠𝐞𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈’𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐲. This is different to Christie’s usual books and been one I have adored from beginning to end.

I really enjoyed reading this one. It has plenty of twists I didn’t see coming and hooked me quite quickly. It resulted in me devouring this in just one sitting.

Christie has a real talent for creating characters that you become invested in and this one is no different. I love that our main character is Dave the bus driver, who really is a nice man!

Reading this, I found everything about Edinburgh seemed familiar. This is because the author has a real talent for portraying the setting to the reader. Another strength of this book for me.

In Her Shadow is brilliantly plotted and extremely well written. I definitely didn’t predict the twists and turns. This is definitely an unpredictable read.

This is definitely a book which will keep you turning the pages. I love how unique this has been and very different to the usual crime thrillers. I loved delving into Dave’s past and following him as he has tried to discover more about the mystery woman.

I’ve read all of Christie’s books and I can honestly say they get better and better. This is definitely my favourite to date. I loved this book and didn’t want it to end.

I have no hesitation in recommending this book.

Bus driver Dave Kellock is a pillar of the community. His cheerful face round Portobello is well known and he is up for a good citizen award. As he drives his bus he suddenly catches sight of a young woman. He is sure he recognises her, but it can't possibly be- Carmen died twenty years ago & it was his fault. His world & his reputation fall apart as he becomes obsessed with finding her.

There were so many times that what I thought I knew about things & I found myself completely wrong! I really liked Dave- even though I thought he was crazy a lot of the time! I enjoyed the setting of Edinburgh & surrounding area. The story was convoluted but held the interest throughout. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book. I loved it!

Bus driver Dave is a pillar of the local community, the friendly face on the morning commute. But he’s hiding a dark secret and the past is about to come back to haunt him. We know from the outset that Dave did a bad thing but somehow the reader can’t help but like him and root for him as he stumbles through a tangled web to get to the truth. Emma Christie writes engaging, fully-rounded characters and does a wonderful job of bringing Edinburgh and its surrounding coastal towns to vivid life. Recommended!

Gripping Scottish thriller with so many twists and turns along the way. Ending was slightly unexpected which is a lovely change. Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy

A sharp, snappy drama full of tensions and questions.

Bus driver Dave keeps to himself. He’s good at his job, is friendly with his manager Crystal, but is happiest left alone. That way no one can find out his past. Until one day, his past gets on his bus- the woman he killed twenty years ago.

Christie raises the stakes by putting the reader in Dave’s place with visceral descriptions of his reactions. Bile in his throat, anxiety shooting up his spine, choking him. We as readers cannot help but think of feeling that panic for ourselves, and this spurs us on to read more.

I also think we read on to see if Dave truly is the murderer he says he is. We relate to him in his anguish, so we want to believe in the goodness of him too.

It was great to read about homosexual couples without a huge fanfare; LGBTQ couples should centre in just as many novels as straight ones do, and should not be treated as a novelty.

The novel is quite short, such is the tightly woven plot, driven forward by character Dave and his need for answers. I gobbled this book up in two days, so easy it was to get hooked!

Content warnings for child loss, domestic abuse and sexual assault- nothing is graphic, only mentioned briefly.

Dave Kellock is an Edinburgh bus driver. During a shift one day in his rearview mirror, he sees a passenger that looks familiar. However, that person died a long time ago. Is he losing his mind? Is he being haunted? We follow Dave on his tormented journey.

The cover as with all of Emma Christie’s titles is gorgeous and really will appeal to readers. It does look like the road from the big Tesco into Musselburgh’s town centre. It was nice to have East Lothian feature in a book. Usually, it is all city-centred based. So that was refreshing.

I read Emma Christie’s previous book Find Her First and loved it. In Her Shadows has a different vibe. It was nice to have my home town (Musselburgh) featured in the book. However, I don’t think Dave, feels the same love for it as I do and that is okay.

I did not like Dave, which sometimes can work in your favour as a reader. But not for me in this case as it is his story and you spend a long time with him. I didn’t understand his behaviour or choices. I feel it might have resonated better with me if it was told from multiple points of view.

It was a good solid read and I think the pacing and my disdain for Dave made it a slow-burn read.

I also can’t believe that Emma Christe wrote this book whilst travelling around Europe in a camper van with her partner. None of the gorgeous European lifestyle or weather seeped into the book and I feel that had to be difficult not to be influenced by your surroundings.

Overall, I will always recommend Emma’s books and now you have three to choose from.

Book : Emma Christie - In Her Shadow

I decided to read this book because this author is from my local area. This is the first one of her books I have read and I was pleasantly surprised.

The book’s location is Edinburgh and I love being pulled into a book which takes me on a journey of places I know. One can imagine travelling the same route. Emma describes her locations so well that one is drawn in and becomes part of the narrative.

It’s not a straightforward read. There are twists and turns and surprises along the way. The ending especially wasn’t what I thought it would be, but so much better.

No spoilers here, just appreciation for a well-written, enjoyable book. I recommend making a cup of tea, sitting down, putting you feet up and get ready to enjoy a good read.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book.

I do love an Emma Christie book!
This one did not disappoint at all!
This book is a great psychological thriller which had me hooked and I read over a day (not often this happens these days!)
I really enjoyed the backstory to Dave and learning the way that things panned out. There were lots of twists and turns and the author takes the reader on a real rollercoaster

One lesson learnt. The past always comes back to haunt you!

A gripping Scottish thriller which is out now!

In her shadow by Emma Christie.
Bus driver Dave Kellock is a pillar of the community in Portobello, Edinburgh. But he's got a terrible secret. His past is dragged into the present when an unexpected passenger steps onto his bus: the woman he killed almost twenty years earlier. Dave's still reeling from the shock of it when police turn up at his door, accusing him of an entirely different crime. As he battles to track down a dead woman and maintain his hard-won reputation, Dave makes a terrifying realisation. Wherever he goes, someone is watching.
A good read. I really didn't like Dave. I wasn't sure i liked it told by Dave. I did find this slow going. I kept putting it down then picking it up again. That did help. I didn't trust Rafa. Crystal I didn't know how I felt about her. Twisty. I didn't expect that. That did surprise me. Overall a slow burner but OK story. The twist at the end was worth it though. Bought the story together nicely. 3*.

In Her Shadow by Emma Christie
Yet another new to me author, and this one didn't disappoint.
It started off quite slow which built and built the further you read.
By the time I got to halfway through I didn't want to put it down.
So many twists and turns throughout, most of which I didn't see coming
Great read that I really enjoyed - would recommend.

Very grateful to the publisher @headline for my place on this blog tour, opinions are my own.

I just finished reading Emma Christie's new thriller, "In Her Shadow," and I am still reeling from the gripping suspense that unfolded within its pages. From the quaint streets of Portobello, Edinburgh, to the dark secrets lurking beneath the surface, this book held me captive from the very beginning.
The protagonist, Dave Kellock, a seemingly ordinary bus driver, becomes the epicenter of a twisted tale when a long-buried secret resurfaces. The unexpected reappearance of a woman he had killed almost two decades ago sends shockwaves through his life. As if that weren't enough, the plot takes an unexpected turn when the police accuse him of an entirely different crime.
Christie weaves an atmospheric narrative that immerses you in the chilling ambiance of Portobello. The tension is palpable as Dave struggles to navigate the murky waters of his past and present. The characters are well-drawn, and their interactions add depth to the narrative. I found myself genuinely invested in their fates, unsure of who to trust as the story unfolded.
The pacing of the novel is relentless, keeping me on the edge of my seat throughout. The author masterfully crafts a tale that seamlessly flows from one twist to another. Each revelation adds another layer to the mystery, ensuring that the reader remains hooked until the very end.
One aspect that particularly stood out to me is the author's ability to create a sense of paranoia. Dave's realization that he is being watched wherever he goes adds an extra layer of suspense, heightening the overall intensity of the narrative.
"In Her Shadow" is my introduction to Emma Christie's work, and it certainly won't be my last.

Thank you NetGalley and Welbeck Publishing for my approval to read and review this book.

Dave Kellock is a bus driver in Edinburgh. On this particular day, Dave is in local paper as he is due to be given an award for his good deeds, and on this day, he picks up a fare that makes think she is someone from his past 20 years ago. Dave is wondering who is the person he saw on the bus? How is this connected with his past that he thought he had put it behind him? I found the book very descriptive in a particular the locations used. The characters were well written. It is full of twists and turns with a few jaw-dropping moments. The ending came as a shock for me - I never saw that happening. I will recommend this book.

In Her Shadow is the first book by Emma Christie I have read but if this is anything to go by, she is clearly a thriller author who should have been on my radar sooner!

Dave Kelllock is a bus driver in Edinburgh, an apparently upstanding individual. But Dave has a past that haunts him - and one day, whilst at work, he sees a woman on his bus who brings that past right into the present. And so his carefully constructed life starts to unravel.

As Dave tries to get answers to his many questions, so his backstory begins gradually to be revealed. It is not a straightforward story and the tension is built as the reader is kept guessing at the truth. With twists I didn’t see coming and a wholly unexpected ending, this is definitely a book that draws you in and the more you read, the less you want to put it down.

As someone brought up not far from Edinburgh, I enjoyed the way in which Christie makes the setting such a strong feature and reallly does bring it to life. Add to that well-drawn characters and a clever plot and it all combines to make for a really good read.

Emma Christie is a new author for me but I am going to have to catch up on her back catalogue after reading 'In Her Shadow'!

Dave Kellock is a 40-something bus driver in Edinburgh; he keeps himself to himself, living a solitary life in his late mum's house. He's reliable, charitable, the kind of man who would do anything for anyone- and he's hiding a huge secret that's been weighing him down for years, a secret that no-one else knows about and must never know about.

When Dave sees a face from the past that he really can't have seen, it sends his carefully balanced life spiralling. And when the police come to the door asking why he has been using his landline to make hoax phone calls and more, he's even more confused than ever. He wasn't there, so who could have been using his phone and why are they trying to implicate him into something nefarious?

Dave's investigations into the situation he has found himself in force him to confront parts of his past that he hoped he had left behind him = people and places that he'd rather not think about again. Can he find out the truth before he is unjustly blamed?

A tightly woven psychological drama with some wonderful characters at its heart. The Edinburgh setting really came to life for me as well, I don't know the city well but could certainly picture it in all of its glory - I think I need to visit Portobello beach one day!

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'In Her Shadow' by Emma Christie.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Emma Christie, Mountain Leopard Press, Hachette and Headline publishers.

Publication date 15th February 2024

This is the first book I have read by this author but it most definitely won't be my last!!!

This novel consists of 44 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

An absolutely epic read from the very talented Emma Christie!!! Absolutely rammed full of twists, tension and turns!! Congratulations Emily on a fantastic page turner!!

This is an extremely well written book with vivid descriptions that will suck you straight into the storyline and captivated from beginning to end. The synopsis and cover worked perfectly with the storyline.

I had never read a book by Emma before this one but I am definitely hooked after and have already added all her books to my wish list. I was absolutely hooked throughout, a true page turner from beginning to end. Emma is one of those amazing authors who writes these epic books that when you are reading them you promise yourself one more chapter and then you'll go to sleep but each time she ends her chapters in a way that has you hooked so you have to read just one more, but then another and before you know it you have walked around all day with the book glued to your hands and have devoured it in one sitting!!! I absolutely adored the unique storyline being told from the perspective of Dave who is a bus driver, I have yet to read a book where the main protagonist is a bus driver. I would definitely liken this book to a rollercoaster ride where it starts off slow while Emma leads you to the top of the storyline and then you drop and it is non stop twists and turns from there with an absolutely explosive ending that I never would have seen coming!! The storyline was in depth, complex and packed with suspense, history, murder, twists, tension, secrets, grief, intensity, heartache, shocks and everything you could ask for in a page turner!!! It is an edge of your seat, nail biting and heart racing psychological thriller. I was absolutely hooked from start to finish. I read this book in less than 24 hours and I'm looking forward to reading more books by this fantastic author. After reading hundreds of crimes and thrillers it's getting harder and harder to shock me but at no point did I even consider the ending of this mind blower!!! If you want to know more about this absolutely epic page turner which you will have to grab your copy today to get them!!! It is one of the best books I have read this year and I really enjoyed and loved the ending!!! Emma ensures there were no loose ends at the book and that everything was explained and tied up. It is one of my pet hates having loose ends at the end of a book so well done Emma!! I won't say more as not to spoil it for future readers. It is a true page turner that will leave you biting your nails on the edge of your seat with your heart racing. Hope your busy typing your next book up Emma as I cannot wait and until then I am off to get stuck into the rest of the books that you have written and if they are anything like this one are guaranteed to be huge successes!!! This book would make an absolutely amazing and box selling movie that I would be first in line to see!!!

Clear your schedules as you will not be able to put down this heart racing thriller!!!

I loved meeting all the characters who were all strong, well defined and unique. I become completely invested in Dave along with all of the other amazing characters. Emma's absolutely fantastic evocative writing skills and descriptions made it feel like you were standing right next to Dave and Crystal throughout feeling everything they are feeling and going through everything they are right along with them. I absolutely love the fact that Dave is a bus driver as I don't think I have ever read a book where the main protagonist is a bus driver so it was nice to experience a unique storyline. The characters were all realistic and I was fascinated watching their personalities and characters change throughout while discovering their histories. My heart did go out to Dave with everything that was going on in his life and with the loss of his mother but I won't go into any further details s I don't want to spoil it for future readers. Emma's fantastic writing skills really do bring each of the characters to life and I won't be forgetting them anytime soon!! A fantastic group of intriguing, realistic and solid characters all brought to life by Emma's fantastic evocative writing skills and I'm looking forward to meeting other characters that she has created in her previous and future books.

This is exactly why I would like to welcome you to my favourite authors Emma!! Here is to your next guaranteed success 🥂!!

I could not praise this book enough and highly recommend it to anyone and everyone. Emma I cannot wait to read more of your very successful work!!! I would also love to see this book turned into a movie. An absolutely addictive, compelling and gripping true page turner!!!

Overall a unique captivating, engrossing page turner that is compelling and addictive by an extremely talented author!!!

274 pages/

This book is just £4.99 to purchase on kindle and £9.19 in paperback via Amazon at time of review, which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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What a brilliant hook - a woman seems to have risen from the dead to step onto Dave Kellock's bus and give him the fright of his life - not to mention a serious dose of guilt, because it was him who killed her. But once we've been drawn into Dave's world, Emma Christie keeps her foot pressed down on the gas and takes us on quite the ride. The tension ramps up and the plot threads spread out, entwine and then double back in a thoughtful and intelligent psychological suspense that will keep you guessing to the very end. A skilfully woven story, where nobody is ever quite what they seem and the ghosts and deeds of the past come back to haunt. I loved it..

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. The premise of the story was good as was the beginning but I did find it quite confusing to read, it had plenty of twists but that didn't quite do it for me.

A bit of a slow burn but I was so obsessed with the premise, I was dying to see how it'd all pan out and it was definitely worth sticking with it. Really original and well written. It's got a dual plot line of the backstory plus the current events and the twist at end made sticking with it more than worth it!

After reading Emma’s two previous books, and devouring each one in a day, I was super excited to read this one.

I didn’t find this as fast paced as her other books and it took me a while to get into. I found it hard to find the main character likeable so perhaps that was why it was a slow go for me.

Once the book hits half way, the pace picks up quickly and becomes more enjoyable. Whilst I was able to suss out some of the twists, it ddidn’t detract from the ending.