As a fellow Scot, I love how Skelton captures the atmosphere of the Scottish landscapes, I can fully picture locations as they are described. The story was great, full of twists and misdirection to keep you turning the page!

A well written book by an established author that kept me turning the pages. Would recommend to others as it was captivating, and intriguing.

Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of Where Demons Hide by Douglas Skelton in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book and found myself giggling throughout it. I didn't realize it was the 4th in the series, but was able to follow along just fine. I loved the characters and want to go back and read the previous books.

This book picks up after the events of the previous book in the series, A Rattle of Bones, and there is still fall out from the events that occurred in it. While you don't have to have read that book, it helps to have read the previous 2 books (book 2 is The Blood is Still, and it and book 3 are on sale on Amazon right now for under $2 for Kindle versions), to have the complete understanding of the previous events, which are an underlying trilogy in the three books. The not returning to the island brings up events from book 1 (Thunder Bay). All in all this book ties up a lot of loose ends, and sets the stage for a new focus for Rebecca in the 5th book in the series.

This book gives 3 of the 4 side characters a chance to shine on their own, including Chaz and Alan. You get some interesting backstory for each of them, and that really helps the reader to understand their current actions. As they 'help' Rebecca with the murder case at hand, with her working a different angle of it from home, you get to see a wider picture of the case, and how things are not what they seem. As the case heats up from the poking around, suddenly everyone is in danger. Add in an unsuspected threat from Mo Burke, and you have a rapid fire read at the end of the book. The end of the series arc is satisfactorially handled and leaves the reader ready to see what next adventure Rebecca can get into!

Rebecca, Chaz and Alan investigate the death of a woman on Stoirm Island. She was encircled by a pentagram. Could a cult called Children of the Dell be responsible for her death? This was a very good story and I’m looking forward to reading more by Douglas Skelton. Thanks NetGalley and Skyhorse Publishing for this ARC that will be published October 17, 2023!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book unfortunately was a DNF for me. I didn’t realize that it’s part of a series and it was really hard to get into. The writing was good but I was very confused. It’s possible because I didn’t read the other books in the series. Thank you netgalley. #WhereDemonsHide #NetGalley

I really enjoyed this book! I didn't expect the ending which was great. The characters are well developed and the story moved at a good pace. 10/10 and a reccomendation. I will definitely be checking out more books by Douglas Skelton in the future! Special Thank You to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A death with supernatural overtones pulls independent journalist Rebecca Connelly back to the island of Stoirm. Despite some misgivings and warnings from an old friend, she’s to attend the wedding of Chaz Wymark to his partner Alan. How can Rebecca ignore the body of a woman found dead inside a hand drawn pentagram and a cult called Children of the Dell? She’s especially intrigued because she is researching an article on a local psychic. What the psychic doesn’t tell her is that she is in imminent danger from Mo Burke, crime family matriarch, and that danger is already on Stoirm.

Douglas Skelton delivers another well plotted, character driven, atmospheric mystery in Where Demons Hide. Although Stoirm, Inchferry and Pittencairn are not real, these locations are so well described that you can see the moors and smell the water. The Rebecca Connelly series is not to be missed! 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Skyhorse Publishing and Douglas Skelton for this ARC.

I've recently discovered Douglas Skelton books and this is my first Rebecca Connelly. I always prefer to read a series from the start but to be honest this was well written and I don't feel like I was missing any part of the story. That being said I will now go and read the first three books.

This is a great thriller, the first chapter had me hooked and again great humour from Skelton. Recommend.

Thank you to netgalley for my copy and allowing me to write an honest review.

A Gritty Crime Thriller

This is A gritty crime thriller, and it has a plot that is packed with twists and turns. The book is well written and full of action, and surprises. It is full of Dark humour and is a fast-paced book which is Set on the remote island of Stoirm in the Hebrides as a terrified woman is running for her life from an unseen enemy. The book goes from strength to strength as There is a psychic, Russian gangsters and two hired killers plus There is a twist at the end. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily .

*ARC FROM NETGALLEY*

There wasn’t a bit of this solid, Scottish Highlands mystery/crime thriller that I didn’t enjoy!

There were several twisty things that came together at the end that I didn’t see coming!

Will definitely read more from this author.

“…There are many things here that I cannot explain…‘Do they need to be explained? Can you not simply put them down to things being what they are, without having to rationalise?’”

This book was extremely hard to get into. I didn’t realize it was part of a series but still attempted to read it. I was confused throughout the section I read. I felt like every sentence was discussing something different and I couldn’t follow along. I did not finish this book due to the confusion. Maybe if I read the series first it would make sense

I wanted to get into this book, I just couldn’t
~This book was given by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I loved the writing of this book. Author did a great job building the characters and the story. However, the ending was anticlimactic and a total letdown for me.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Skyhorse Publishing for a review copy of Where Demons Hide, the fourth novel to feature Inverness based investigative reporter Rebecca Connolly.

Nuala Flaherty is found dead in the middle of a pentagram she carved on a lonely moor on the island of Stroim. Rebecca is interested to find out more and it leads her to a newly established commune, The Children of the Dell. Commune or cult Rebecca isn’t sure, but she knows there’s something off about it. Meanwhile, local gangster Mo Burke blames Rebecca for the death of her son and wants revenge.

I thoroughly enjoyed Where Demons Hide, which is a masterclass in misdirection with nothing as it seems. I was very impressed by the way things turned out, none of which I was expecting. I did, however, struggle to concentrate at the beginning as the narrative switches from voice to voice and it was hard to build a story in my mind. Once I got a clearer picture I couldn’t put it down.

I don’t really know how to describe the novel without spoilers as there are so many strands and, as I said, a lot of misdirection. The bulk of the investigation on Stroim is carried out by Rebecca’s friends, Chaz and Alan who are there to get married. They are funny and made me chortle on a regular basis. Rebecca is more serious so she’s handling the research and worrying about her love life. In amongst all this there are hints of psychic events, a couple of guns for hire and a protector in the form of former DS Sawyer, a man unafraid to take the law into his own hands if the situation requires it.

Where Demons Hide is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

4 stars

A young woman is fleeing for her life. Her body is found lying in a self-drawn pentagram on the remote Scottish island of Stoirm. What frightened her so badly? Did she have an enemy?

Rebecca is a reporter for the local newspaper. She is very reluctant to return to the island due to some bad memories of the place. A key one is Mo Burke. A formidable woman, Mo believes that Rebecca is the cause of her son’s death. Her curiosity wins out. She is determined to learn who killed Nuala.

Besides, her two good friends, Chaz and Alan are set to marry on the island.

There are many suspects. There is a local cult, and drugs are a problem.

Mr. Skelton writes very well. His characters are interesting and well drawn. I liked the interaction between Chaz and Alan. The people in this book were likable (for the most part). The book moves along at a steady pace and reads quickly.

I want to thank NetGalley and Skyhorse Publishing/Arcade Crimewise for forwarding to me a copy of this very good book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Sky horse Publishing for the eARC.
This is a terrific read, I love this series.
Rebecca is going back to the isle of Stoirm even though she's reluctant, but it's for her good friends' Chaz and Allen's wedding.
A terrified woman flees from a cottage like the hounds of hell are after her and is found dead in the morning. Rebecca, always looking for a story, investigates the death as well as what looks to be a cult on the island. Plus, unbeknownst to her, someone is intent on doing her serious harm.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable book that I gobbled up in two days, highly recommended!