This was a book with real pace, action and twisty turns. The atmosphere both of the coast and the RNLI station as well as the police station is incredibly well told. Shona is being hit from all angles as she investigates a death with so many entanglements and links to crime, to family and to the police officers she works with. The characters of the people that Shona works and plays with are well described, complete with local accents and dialects. The investigation speeds up at the end of the book with the onion layers being peeled back faster and faster to get to the centre of the crime. The ending leaves a few questions unanswered and left me with a little feeling of wanting to know a little more.

First book I have read from this author and I really enjoyed it. Very good characters. Well rounded story.. Plenty of twists and mystery to keep me interested. Look forward to her next offering. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

A good mystery that kept me guessing, well plotted and intriguing. Interesting characters and setting
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart


Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Detective Shona Oliver series does a nice job with its police procedural aspects. Shona Oliver is a Detective Inspector. I would read these books in order for the personal growth and relationships. I like the setting in Scotland, the mysteries and cases, the police procedures, and less, Shona's personal situations.

Shona struggles with her husband Rob, who came from money, and her teen, Becca, who is going through somewhat normal ups and downs. She loves them but I can't say either is very kind to her. Rob is in jail for his schemes. Becca is angry with him for his crimes and for cheating on Shona. Money is a less of a problem, since Shona's old school friend bought part of the B & B. Shona is having a long distance relationship with James who is living and working in America, a famous actor. His ex-wife and children are there.

Shona is at the lifeboat as there is a triathlon. Hayley, one of the police force is competing, so there are other officers on hand, including Kate, a DC from Shona's team, best friend of Hayley. Hayley struggles and while they pull her out to get medical attention quickly, she dies. The autopsy reveals probable performance enhancing drugs and a puncture would which indicates foul play.

The investigation is very connected to the police which makes some things more difficult. Hayley's fiance, and they live together, is also on the force. Kate is emotional and unprofessional, adding to the problems Shona faces. Hayley's family is part of the criminal element in the area which makes it harder to talk to them.

The plot and investigation were engaging. I wasn't very happy with some things in the investigation. I found Kate and other team members annoying. I felt irritated by her daughter Becca also. Shona's own secrets from the past were also wearing on her.

The case ended with a certain solution but the various personal situations feels like a heavy weight.

A Troubled Tide
In this fifth instalment of the Lynne McEwan‘s Scottish Detective Shona Oliver series, a young police woman drowns while participating in a triathlon. The post mortem reveals that she had been taking performance enhancing drugs and that she was murdered. While Shona and her team investigate, her trusty friend Freya looks after the B&B, teenage daughter Becca and Shona’s boyfriend James vie for her attention…If you like detailed police procedurals and lots of Scottish vernacular, this is the book for you!

Thanks to Canelo and NetGalley for ARC.

This is book 5 in a series. Despite that, I was plunged straight in, with a terrific opener and a good sense of DI Shona Oliver and her team developing very quickly. A colleague dies suddenly and very publicly, and the team struggle to keep their personal feelings out of the investigation, an inevitability in such a small policing area as Dumfries and Galloway. I found some of the plot threads a.little far fetched, but that's fiction. Well paced and had me caring about the outcomes for all concerned.

I am a long term fan of this series so was thrilled to be able to read an advanced copy. It’s not always easy for a long term series to maintain an emotional truth and avoid slipping into formula territory but Lynne McEwen keeps the overarching story engaging and truthful. Shonas’s annoying husband is out of the picture and Shona is pondering next steps. The mystery itself is well crafted. Definitely recommend this one.

This is #5 in the Detective Shona Oliver series but can be read as a standalone.

DI Shona is also a volunteer with the RNLI so she’s on duty for a local triathlon. Two police officers are taking part but one of them, Hayley, drowns, despite the help of the lifeboat volunteers.

It looks like an accident until needle marks are found on Hayley’s body, so it seems that she’s been taking performance enhancing drugs (PEDs). Shona’s team then have to work hard to find the killer before they strike again.

A great storyline that had me gripped but, unfortunately, my train of thought kept getting interrupted in order to translate the vernacular. I can manage words like ‘mebbe’ but ‘sleekit’ needed an internet search, for example. I don’t think I’ve read another book where the local accent is described in such detail and I found it quite frustrating. But that’s just my personal opinion!

Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

Another brilliant read in the DI Shona Oliver series, set in southern Scotland. This is an easy read, with several layers but filled with suspense and a few twists along the way. I was totally gripped by the characters as they investigated the death of a colleague and keep their emotions in check. A few surprises kept me guessing, as did the ending, for Shona's future. I highly recommend the series. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

I love this series so much! In Shona Oliver you have a multi faceted character, but no corners are cut and no stereotypes. I have loved every book so far and the latest is no exception as Shona investigates the death of a fellow copper. So good. More needed!!

DI Shona Oliver is there when Hayley Cameron, an expert triathlete, drowns during a local competition. Shona, Solway DI, is volunteering at the race as a part-time member of the RNLI and Hayley is a PC serving on Shona’s team. When drugs are found in Hayley’s system, her fellow officers, especially her friend Kate, cannot believe this is true. The investigation into her death is complicated as Hayley had ties to a notorious criminal gang. Meanwhile, a woman attending an eco-festival nearby is found dead and a case from Shona’s past is reopened. As these cases slowly twist together, Shona deals with personal problems. Her daughter Becca is becoming more and more independent and Shona is trying to keep a long-distance romance alive.

A Troubled Tide is the fifth in what is one of the best series I have ever read. Familiar characters return and new ones are introduced but Shona shines. Running a B&B, working full-time and part-time jobs and recovering from her husband’s betrayal and prison sentence, Shona is complex and self-doubting. Ravi, Kate and Murdo, members of team, are also favorites and Solway is an atmospheric location. The well-planned and carefully paced plot is full of surprises. Lynne McEwan has delivered an excellent police procedural/thriller. 5 stars.

Thank yo to NetGalley, Canelo and Lynne McEwan for this ARC.

A Troubled Tide is a gripping crime thriller set against the haunting backdrop of the Solway Firth, where the threat of danger is more real than ever. The story kicks off with the tragic drowning of PC Hayley Cameron during a triathlon, and the investigation quickly spirals into a tense and emotional journey for DI Shona Oliver. As Shona digs deeper into the case, the suspense builds with unexpected twists and personal struggles that keep readers on edge. The picturesque yet eerie setting of the Solway Firth adds a perfect layer of atmosphere to the narrative, enhancing the sense of isolation and danger. Shona’s complex relationships with her colleagues and family give the story emotional depth, making her quest for justice all the more compelling. While the pacing is strong, the personal stakes are what truly elevate this book, making it a thrilling and thought-provoking read.

this was gripping! full of twists and turns up and down round and round. i didnt see half the conclusions coming which i loved. and i was alongside the Di trying to figure it out and getting frustrated with her. i thought having this death so instantly close to home and in the same force was really original and a brilliant take. you and the characters are instantly invested in this. and it adds an extra touch of angst to the book. also because it was someone in the force you are quickly suspicious of the others in the team which keeps you guessing and wondering whether you are seeing truths or just being too suspicious.

This is the 5th book in the brilliant DI Shona Oliver series.


Omg that was a rollercoaster ride of emotions! There was twists galore I didn't see coming. I was totally hooked from start to finish. I will happily recommend this book to every reader I know. Loved it.

DI Shona Oliver’s fellow officer PC Hayley Cameron drowns during a triathlon in the Solway Firth. The post-mortem reveals drugs in Hayley's system, perhaps self-administered performance enhancers. But a puncture wound in the back of her wetsuit suggests foul play.

Shona and her colleagues investigate, but those closest to Hayley grapple with the truth and risk letting personal feelings cloud their judgement. Could the answers to Hayley’s death lie within Shona’s own ranks?

As the case hits the buffers, Shona clashes with her daughter and also faces difficult questions about the murder of her old boss. Will Shona keep her head above the water long enough to see justice done, and what will it cost her if she does?

DI Shona Oliver’s fellow officer PC Hayley Cameron drowns during a triathlon in the Solway Firth. The post-mortem reveals drugs in Hayley's system, perhaps self-administered performance enhancers. But a puncture wound in the back of her wetsuit suggests foul play.

This was an utterly gripping story that grabs you by the throat. It kept me on the edge of my seat and right in the first chapter, the speed is full on. The story is easy to read and well thought of. I couldn’t put this book down and it was engaging from the first page.

I enjoyed the ride and kept me glued to the pages for the duration. I really had a fun time. It will keep you guessing about what happened and will happen.
It is a well written story with a good plot and well described characters. It has relatively short chapters.

This is the fifth book in the series about DI Shona Oliver. But it certainly makes me curious to know more about her and read the other books about her. I really recommend this one!

If you have not read any of Lynne McEwan’s books you are missing out and if you have, you do not need me to recommend this one to you. Lynne quickly became one of my favourite authors, not simply due to her books being set in an area where I live, and grew up, but because they are well written, with good plot lines, coupled by strong characters. Hopefully, it will not be long until the next one comes out..

Thanks to Lynne and NetGalley for allowing me to read A Troubled Tide before the publication date.
This is the 5th book in the D.I. Shona Oliver series. I won’t elaborate on the description in order to avoid spoilers.

Shona has to manage the problems in her personal life, (not least her cheating narcissistic husband, Rob, who was convicted of money laundering), in addition to her professional workload, making an invitation to move to L.A. very tempting.

Ever reliable, Sgt Murdo O’Halloran continues to provide explanations of local mythology and an in depth knowledge of the local community.

Sophie Gibb is the new recruit to the Lifeboat team and is already making an impression.

Weaving several storylines, the book combines being an easy read whilst also being a page turner. There are plenty of surprises (shocks?) and twists along the way and first impressions are not always right.
How will the end result influence Shona’s decision to continue with the job which she loves or move to the States?

The threat has never been so close to home… DI Shona Oliver’s fellow officer PC Hayley Cameron drowns during a triathlon in the Solway Firth. The post-mortem reveals drugs in Hayley's system, perhaps self-administered performance enhancers. But a puncture wound in the back of her wetsuit suggests foul play! Good book! This book had great suspense, intriguing, murder, mystery, a great who done it and some crazy twists and turns! The story was very interesting! I definitely recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!