"The Accused" by Owen Mullen is a gripping and intense mystery that plunges Private Investigator Charlie Cameron into Glasgow's dark underworld. From the moment Glasgow PI Charlie Cameron encounters Kim Rafferty, he senses trouble. Desperation exudes from Mrs. Rafferty, and her request for help involves the notorious East-End gangster, setting the stage for a perilous journey.

Mullen skillfully weaves a complex narrative, introducing a betrayed woman pleading for Charlie's help to prevent an innocent man, Dennis Boyd, from serving a prison sentence for murders he didn't commit. The urgency of the cases creates a sense of relentless tension, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat.

The character of Charlie Cameron is compelling, with a keen sense of justice and a willingness to cross lines for the greater good. As he fights against the clock to keep Boyd out of jail, the novel delves into the moral complexities faced by the protagonist. The conflicts that arise, particularly with old friend DS Andrew Geddes, add depth to the narrative.

Mullen's writing is sharp and evocative, capturing the gritty atmosphere of Glasgow's dark underworld. The pacing is relentless, reflecting the urgency and high stakes of the cases Charlie undertakes. The author expertly builds suspense as the body count grows, and the defense for Dennis Boyd unravels.

The plot twists and turns keep the reader guessing, and the author successfully maintains a balance between mystery, suspense, and character development. The sense of inevitability adds an extra layer of intensity, challenging Charlie Cameron in ways he may not have anticipated.

"The Accused" is a compelling mystery that navigates the moral complexities of justice and the lengths one is willing to go for the truth. Owen Mullen's storytelling prowess shines through, creating a dark and atmospheric thriller that captivates until the very end. This gripping tale earns a solid four stars for its well-crafted plot, engaging characters, and the exploration of justice in the shadowy corners of Glasgow's underworld.

Another great read in the Charlue Cameron series. Once again well written and fast paced throughout. A brilliant addition to the series.

Another fab read by Owen Mullen. Book 4 in the Charlie Cameron series is another fast paced, gripping crime thriller. Brilliant twists.

The Accused is the fourth book in the series featuring Owen Mullen’s private detective Charlie Cameron. I have only read one of the others so far, but this works fine as a standalone. Two very different women come to Charlie’s office seeking his help. Kim Rafferty, wife of a vicious gangster, feels her life is in danger and wants to disappear before it’s too late. Charlie has had dealings with Sean Rafferty before and feels it won’t end well for him. Diane Kennedy wants him to solve a fifteen-year-old murder that her friend Dennis Boyd was imprisoned for. Newly released from Barlinnie, and still pleading his innocence, Dennis is in danger of being locked up again for good when the witnesses who lied to convict him start turning up dead.
Unusually, this book features two separate plot lines that don’t appear to converge. One strand is told from multiple viewpoints in the third person, which works well; the other we mostly see through Charlie’s eyes which gives us an insight into his thoughts as well as his actions. The characters are well drawn and easy to differentiate, and it’s good to see the return of a few old favourites. The extracts from Pat Logue’s book of quotations add a bit of light relief. The strong sense of place was one of the highlights of the book; I could so easily picture where he was going as he walked the streets of Glasgow.
This book is not for those of a nervous disposition as the brutality is extreme, though appropriate for the criminal underworld being portrayed. The plot is complex, taking many twists and wrong turns along the way, fast paced and gripping. The book ends with some things unresolved, paving the way nicely for the next Charlie Cameron adventure. Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.

3.5 stars

An innocent man being framed for murder, with the key to solving it based in a 15-year-old murder case, is what Charlie’s up against this time. Another solid book in the series.

[What I liked:]

•As usual, a complex mystery with emotional weight & some nice twists at the end. This writer does twists that are fully built up to, so they don’t seem random. That makes them extra satisfying.

•Charlie doesn’t have a lot of personal life happenings in this book, but there is at least some tension in his friendship with Andrew to give him a little character development.

•Patrick & the quote book was a nice schtick! Added some much needed comic relief.


[What I didn’t like as much:]

•The part about Kim seemed a bit farfetched. Also, why didn’t Sean go after Tony? That was never explained, though it was implied he knew Tony was involved in thwarting him.

•Why was Andrew letting other people take credit for his arrests when he was up for promotion? That made no sense & was never explained, though it was commented upon.

CW: infidelity, domestic violence, murder, human trafficking, forced drugging, substance abuse, r*pe, physical violence

[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]

Owen Mullen’s The Accused is an action-packed chiller full of grit, tension and menace featuring maverick detective Charlie Cameron.

Glasgow PI Charlie Cameron knows trouble when he sees it and Kim Rafferty is trouble with a capital T. In his line of work, Charlie isn’t averse to danger and he doesn’t balk at challenges, but even he knows that agreeing to take Kim Rafferty on would be madness. If Charlie agrees to help out the wife of an East End gangster, the consequences simply do not bear thinking about. If this job goes wrong, Charlie stands to lose absolutely everything – including his life!

Desperate women seem to be beating a path to his door lately. No sooner has Kim come asking for help that another betrayed woman comes to him asking to help her keep an innocent man out of jail who is being accused of crimes he didn’t commit. With Dennis Boyd on the run, Charlie needs to find him and keep him out of jail – even if this quest for justice ends up putting him on the wrong side of the law and pitting him against his old friend and ally, DS Andrew Geddes.

Time is running out for Charlie and with dangers and pitfalls round every corner, he finds himself wondering whether this case might be the one that will leave him completely and utterly dumbfounded.

Owen Mullen knows how to keep his readers glued to the pages of his novels and in The Accused he has written a razor sharp, fast-paced and pulse-pounding crime thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat until the very last page.

Charlie Cameron is a terrific detective. Fearless, engaging, flawed and nuanced, Charlie is the kind of hero it is impossible not to cheer for and be drawn to and he is someone readers will thoroughly enjoy spending time with.

Crime fiction fans looking for thrillers that will keep them reading way past their bedtime need to add Owen Mullen’s books to their auto-buy list.

Another great book by Owen Mullen! . Charlie gets a visit from a local woman who wants to dissappear with her daughter because her husband is hurting her. He is asked to help a man who is charged with murder. It will take everything Charlie has to handle both investigations. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Written as part of the blog tour -

We are back with our favourite flawed PI Charlie Cameron. He’s a magnet for trouble and he just can’t seem to say no.. even when he does say no to a case trouble still finds it’s way to his door!

First through the door is Kim Rafferty..things with her gangster husband Sean are unravelling fast and she wants Charlie’s help. Sean is well known to Charlie.. worse still Charlie is well known to Sean.. it’s best if he stays clear of this one.. but can he?.. and if he doesn’t help what will happen. To Kim?

Sean has more troubles than just his wife to be concerned about, his benefactor is visiting. The visit needs to go well.. Sean has a temper and won’t take anything less than perfect on this one. Things never go to plan do they though?

The other potential case is around Dennis Boyd who has served 15 years for a crime he claims not to have committed. He wants to find out who set him up. The case is made more complicated when another body hits the ground related to the original case. This is a tough one to handle as Charlie can’t seek assistance for his long time friend DS Andrew Geddes without blurring the lines of work and friendship.

As always Charlie can rely on his other source of information Patrick Logue, his humour always has me smiling… he’s a loveable rogue and really adds to the story. Charlie would be lost without him.

I’ve come to expect high quality from Owen Mullen, action packed, gritty and full of twists and turns to keep you guessing what will happen next and boy does this one tick all the boxes! The series just keeps getting better and better! How is that even possible? How do you build on perfection?

The storylines are hard hitting and convincing mixed with some wonderful dark humour that just makes this an outstanding 5*

Glasgow gangster’s wife Kim Rafferty seeks out PI Charlie Cameron with a plea for help, but Charlie has history with her husband, Sean Rafferty, and knows that keeping well clear of the viscous thug is the best way to stay alive. When another woman comes to him for help, Charlie decides to look into the case – a fifteen-year-old murder for which Dennis Boyd, newly-released from prison, was convicted. Unfortunately, one of the three men who accused Boyd is found murdered, forcing Boyd to go on the run. With the case beginning to look decidedly dodgy, can Charlie Cameron work out who is telling the truth before Boyd is arrested and thrown back in jail?

This is the eighth book I’ve read by Owen Mullen and as usual, it’s a cracker. With several storylines going on at the same time, the author thrusts his characters into a complex plot involving Scottish and Spanish gangsters, prostitution rings, and a load of folk who may or may not be on the right side of the law. As the story progresses, Mullen’s hero is faced with some difficult decisions and finds his relationship with cop-pal DS Geddes on shaky ground, which could easily land Charlie in a whole heap of trouble. It’s fair to say there are several gruesome scenes, but the author still manages to squeeze in a generous helping of his canny humour to lighten the darker aspects of this fast-moving gritty thriller.

Another cracking tale from the Big Mannie of Tartan Noir.

This book was a fine example of the quality of Owen Mullen's writing. I would urge all lovers of good crime novels to get their hands on a copy. You will enjoy it. Highly recommended!

PI Charlie Cameron is great at finding people. So a mobster’s wife thinks he might be just as good at helping people be not found. Kim Rafferty is tired of the physical and psychological abuse. She is tired of her husband’s philandering. She is worried about their daughter. She wants to disappear with her daughter, somewhere Sean Rafferty can never find her.



Cameron wants to help her. He intends to help her. Despite the opposition of his friends, despite the fact that he has crossed paths with Sean Rafferty before and barely survived, despite the fact that if Sean Rafferty ever discovers his role he will be tortured and killed, Charlie Cameron wants to help her. However, without help from his friends, he cannot.



Dennis Boyd has a very different problem. He has just been released from prison after spending or 15 years there for a murder he claims that he did not commit. The widow of the victim wants Cameron to find out who did kill her husband: she also believes Dennis Boyd is innocent. The evidence against Boyd was not compelling and relied on three questionable witnesses, but since part of the evidence against him was their affair, her participation is…awkward. Once those witnesses start getting killed, there is a much more present threat that Cameron must find.



In Charlie Cameron, author Owen Mullen has a winning character who has a gift for finding both people and problems. Whether it’s crossing the lines with his police friend or getting distracted by a beautiful woman, Cameron has an unerring compass for both trouble and justice. He always manages to go in the right direction, but sometimes insists on crashing through (metaphorical) hedges, windows, and walls to go there. His friends may have their own issues, but they are always there for him and he always has their backs.



And sometimes their bar tabs.

I absolutely adore Owen Mullen books and this is quite possibly my favourite yet. This is another well written book, filled with tension.

I have loved the characters, the plot has been exciting and one that I have been unable to predict. This is a book that moves at the perfect pace.

I have loved revisiting characters from previous books. This has pulled me in very quickly and I can safely say that I can’t wait for the next book.

This is exciting and unique. I have loved how Mullen writes, you instantly feel as though you know the characters. Mullen manages to transport you as a reader and it feels as though you are there with the characters.

The Accused by Owen Mullen is the fourth instalment in the PI Charlie Cameron series. I love this series and couldn't wait to read this book.
We see Charlie being drawn back into the murky Glaswegian underworld when the wife of Sean Rafferty, Kim, approaches Glasgow PI Charlie Cameron to help her leave her husband, even Charlie is a little concerned about taking the case. Everyone knows Sean Rafferty and the consequences of getting on his wrong side. If Charlie agrees to help Kim, he’ll be risking more than his job if Sean finds out. As much as he would love to help her to escape the man, he has to refuse her request. Will he be glad to have swerved this case or will he wish he had helped Kim? He gets involved in a case of a man accused of a crime that got him 15 years in prison. He is out but it looks like he his being set up to go right back to prison. Charlie has to find the man, Dennis and get him to trust Charlie and prove Dennis is innocent. Charlie has connections within the local police and this book sees him having to trust in those relationships and hope they don't betray him.
Both stories run concurrently and it makes for a truly compelling and addictive read with more of Owen Mullens brilliant characterisations. Charlie is a man that I have loved since book 1 and as the series has developed so has Charlie. This has been great to see, it makes for an even better read than if you have only read one.
As always an action packed and with the brutality that comes with the territory. This series never let's me down and the quality of Owen Mullins writing never loses its razor edge. I love these books.
Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books for the copy of the book.

I’ve officially read enough of Owen Mullen’s books to declare myself as a fan, I think. I absolutely love his writing. Every book I’ve read has been awesome.

This is book four, and each book has been excellent. The Accused may be my favorite so far. It reads great as a standalone, too!

This is a page-turner, with exceent writing. There are two storylines that run parallel, which is very interesting. They don’t seem to be related until the plot really unfolds. All the twists make for an unexpected surprise and then it all makes sense.

Can’t wait to read more from this author!

Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources for the review copy and the opportunity to honestly review this book on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.

PI Charlie Cameron is certainly no stranger to a difficult investigation, but when he is drawn back into the troubling underworld in Glasgow once more, he is faced with one of his most difficult and troubling cases yet.

When Charlie is approached by a woman who is desperate for his help in order to clear her husbands name, Charlie finds it impossible to refuse and is instantly immersed in a world full of danger and deceit. As his latest client is on the run, Charlie is racing against the clock as he attempts to clear the man’s name and also try to remove himself from this world of danger as quickly as possible.

As he gets ever closer to the truth, long buried secrets and resentments come to light, making this an utterly captivating story from the moment it begins. As always, Owen Mullen has produced a story that is overflowing with drive and suspense throughout, and this latest instalment certainly didn’t disappoint.

The characters are well fleshed out and have their own unique personalities and complex, well structured life stories to share along the way. The storyline is unique and perfectly plotted, keeping you completely immersed in the world in which he has so brilliantly created. Another fantastic read I would urge others to delve in to.

The Accused is a taut mystery thriller with multiple plot lines that interweave throughout the story. Character development is a big focus throughout the novel but not to the detriment of the compelling plotlines. Set in Glasgow, private investigator Charlie specialises in finding missing persons, his interest shaped by his own experiences. Charlie's office base is no longer a room above a venue called New York Blue but he still frequents the bar where he meets his close friends and acquaintances including DS Andrew Geddes and Patrick Logue, his right-hand man.

Owen Mullen cleverly combines each of the story strands really well making this a fascinating read and love the way in which he showcases his characters. In addition to a few neat twists and plenty of wit, there is a pronounced overall noir feel to the narrative and nothing is given away until the tidy, shocking and satisfying conclusion. You don't have to have read the other instalments in the series to enjoy this one, as it works as an individual tale, but there might be a few spoilers referenced from earlier ones. I adore this series so I'm planning to start the author's other series featuring Mackenzie Darroch.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Boldwood Books via NetGalley, and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

The Accused SYNOPSIS/Book Blurb

When Private Investigator Charlie Cameron agrees to take on a cold case, he is drawn back into Glasgow’s dark underworld…
Glasgow PI Charlie Cameron knew Kim Rafferty was bad news the moment they met. Desperate people always spelled trouble in his experience, and Mrs Rafferty was as desperate as they come. What she was asking for was insane. If he agreed to help the wife of the notorious East-End gangster, the consequences for them both could be fatal.
Twenty-four hours later, another betrayed woman with a hopeless case is pleading for Charlie’s help. The PI is her only chance to keep an innocent man from serving a second prison sentence for murders he didn’t commit.
Dennis Boyd is on the run, and as Charlie fights against the clock to keep him out of jail, he crosses a line that puts him on the wrong side of the law and pits him against his old friend and ally, DS Andrew Geddes.
As the body count grows, and the defence for his client falls apart bit by bit, Charlie refuses to accept the inevitable. But everyone has their limits – even the infamous Charlie Cameron. Will he be forced to admit that this case may be the one to beat him…


REVIEW ~ NIKI PRESTON ~ 5 STARS

Secrets and intrigue lie at the heart of this murderous thriller. Some of the characters are dastardly with cruel intentions and will literally do anything to get away with murder and frame innocent people, or are they as innocent as they want us to believe?

Charlie, the Private Investigator does not want to get drawn in to this deadly game but he is intrigued enough by Dennis that he just can’t keep away from the case. He has many fingers in many pies and is able to discover things that have lain dormant whilst Dennis was in Prison for a crime he is adamant he did not commit. However as the body count rises Charlie begins to doubt everything he has been told. Should he really continue trying to prove that his client is innocent or get out now while he is still alive?

The case of Kim Rafferty that Charlie also reluctantly takes on becomes quite grisly and had me almost recoiling at the violence that ensues. A cleverly written storyline that drags you along with it even though you’re not sure you really want to go there. The descriptive writing is excellent and you just don’t want to put the book down.

I was enthralled by Owen Mullen’s writing style. It’s edginess keeps you interested without being over the top with gratuitous violence. There are violent acts but they fit with the nature of the characters and the worlds they move in.

The Accused is one of those books that you don’t want to end because you’re enjoying it so much, well written, engaging and an all round scorcher of a thriller.

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Author Bio – Owen Mullen is a highly regarded crime author who splits his time between Scotland and the island of Crete. In his earlier life he lived in London and worked as a musician and session singer.

This is (I think) the fourth book in a series. I'll say that this time, it would have helped to read the previous books to figure out PI Charlie Cameron's history with his two friends and with the big bad guy, Sean Rafferty. That said, it can (and does, mostly) stand on its own, with enough fill-ins to not make it terribly confusing.

Charlie is approached by two women, separately, to help them with an issue. One is Kim Rafferty, the bombshell trophy wife of psychopathic gang leader Sean Rafferty who wants to leave him, and the other has a surprising connection to a man just released from prison, convicted of killing that same woman's husband.

Thus we begin two separate story arcs: Rafferty's is told from multiple viewpoints: Sean, Kim, a gangster from Portugal, the woman who runs Sean's brothels - but not Charlie's, as he declines. The other is told primarily from Charlie's and Dennis Boyd's. Charlie agrees to take the second, but very early on, he decides that maybe Boyd is guilty - one of the witnesses, for instance, who Boyd swore was lying on the stand, is found dead the night after Boyd is released. The optics of that, as far as Charlie is concerned, are terrible.

After meeting with Boyd, though, he agrees to help. Having the second witness of three turn of dead, too, is problematic,but Charlie realizes he was wrong: it does appear that Boyd, who had been sleeping with the man's wife, and was the most likely killer, may be innocent after all.

Charlie's no slouch, either. He doesn't spend his day behind a computer, tapping away. He's on the streets, chasing down clues, finding people, and sometimes pissing off his pal who is with the police. When he says he's taking a case and will work it, that's exactly what he does.

Not a lot of plot details in this review, as the entire thing would need to be spoilered.

The writing is quite good, and while sometimes Charlie can be a bit of a smartass, can't we all? Dialogue has no issues - no one is working overtime to be cutesy or coy, or occasionally witty. It flows nicely, and even a few rapidfire sections are not difficult to follow.

The dual stories are both interesting in their own right, although the Rafferty storyline was wrapped up in just a handful of pages, including a somewhat not easy to believe escape at the end, which was a bit out of sorts for the book until that point. There's a kind of, maybe cliffhanger on that one, but I can't say why, lest I spoil it. The Boyd story - well, you'll just have to read it, and I recommend you do if police/PI mysteries are your thing.

A solid four out of five stars.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the reading copy.

Favorite Quotes:

Secrets. Everybody had them. The only people who didn’t were six feet under.

He’d helped me more often than I could remember; he had a good heart. But if you wanted to find it, you had to be prepared to dig.

She stepped back to look at him. ‘How do you manage to stay in such good shape?’ ‘Clean living. Avoid it at all costs.’

She rummaged in her bag again with the enthusiasm of a panhandler, except the silver and gold she was after were dried leaves and paper. Diane inhaled hard enough to suck the oxygen from the room; when she spoke, there was smoke in her voice.

When it suited him, Andrew was a paid-up member of the Awkward Squad.


My Review:

Owen Mullen is a master storyteller but he must have a dark and dastardly soul as his well-crafted storylines were dripping with gripping intrigue while raw, gritty, and cringe-worthy with violence and twisted cruelty. I found I was flinching and needed to take it in stages and periodically put my kindle down and walk away. Finishing took me quite a bit longer than expected yet I couldn’t leave it alone. I was hooked, ensnared, and addled by my unrelenting curiosity as the clever wordsmith wasn’t giving anything away. I had to know the who, why, and how as his well-honed mystery seemed unsolvable. The little pea in my brain was working overtime and although my meager gray matter failed to crack it, the beleaguered yet persistent bloodhound Charlie Cameron came through. I was so proud of him I now feel compelled to read all the previous books in this series.

In addition to a new addiction for crime thrillers, I came away from this book with a new entry for my Brit Words and Phrases List with wide boy – which is British informal for a man earning a lot of money in a nefarious or illegal manner. Not at all the image I had pictured ;)

‘The Accused’ is the fourth book in the series featuring Private Investigator Charlie Cameron. I have read and loved each of the previous books in the series. I do have to say that although it is part of a series, ‘The Accused’ reads perfectly well as a standalone. I couldn’t wait to start reading ‘The Accused’ and so without further ado, I grabbed my Kinde, grabbed a cup of tea and settled down for an interesting afternoon of reading. I thoroughly enjoyed ‘The Accused’ but more about that in a bit.
It took me no time at all to get into ‘The Accused’. In fact by the time I got to the end of the first page, I knew that I was going to be in for a treat and that I wouldn’t be doing much else other than reading for the rest of the day, because I knew that I wouldn’t be able to put this book to one side for any length of time. To say that reading ‘The Accused’ became addictive is a bit of an understatement. I would pick my Kindle up only intending to read a couple of chapters but I would become so wrapped up in the story that I would still be sat there many chapters and a couple of hours later. I was intrigued by the plot and by the characters and I had to keep reading to see how the story panned out. All too quickly I reached the end of the story and I had to say goodbye to Charlie Cameron. I found ‘The Accused’ to be a gripping read, which kept me on my toes and ono the edge of my seat throughout.
‘The Accused’ is superbly written but then that’s also true of all of the books in the series. Owen has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. He has the knack of grabbing the reader’s attention and drawing the reader into the story from the very start. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintained a fast pace throughout. Reading ‘The Accused’ felt like being on a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. Just when you thought that you could take minute to catch your breath and gather your thoughts then off the action would go again. I felt as though I was part of the story and that’s thanks to Owen’s very vivid and realistic storytelling.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘The Accused’ and I would recommend this book to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Owen’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.