When DCI Christine Caplan is called to the scene of a murder at a remote Scottish castle, there is no body. There is instead a photograph taken of Koi, world famous influencer, former supermodel and the last surviving member of the Sunshine Girls of advertising fame. Koi’s husband Gabe heard a scream and found her body lying broken on the rocks, thoughtfully pausing to take the picture before she was washed away by the tide. Or was she? Christine and her team are frustrated at every turn by the famous Samphire family. There are the nepo baby children, addicted, anorexic and otherwise disturbed. There is Gabe, famous photographer and father of most of the children. And there is Pip Pomeroy, the Samphire family manager, who misses no chance to exploit tragedy for publicity - or to invent tragedy for publicity. While Christine investigates Koi’s possible suicide, she is dealing with family problems, especially her son Kenny’s girlfriend Jade who tries to confront or embarrass Christine whenever possible.

Caro Ramsey has delivered a compelling Scottish police procedural with an atmospheric, haunting location and a multilayered plot. DCI Caplan is a both a strong woman and a sympathetic figure. Pomeroy is a victim and the all Samphire clan, except Tron, are unlikeable. This is this first mystery/thriller I’ve read in this excellent series and it won’t be the last . 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Severn House and Caro Ramsey for this ARC.

This latest in the series (easily enjoyable as a standalone) sees DCI Christine Caplan puzzled by the death of Koi, an influencer who is found at the bottom of a cliff. Koi is part of the Sunflower Company and her whole family is somehow involved. It's an unfamiliar situation for Christine but she knows there's something more going on. Secrets lies and how we present ourselves to the world all factor in. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

an intriguing and brilliant story to follow. full of mounting pressure for both the team investigating anf then through to us readers. i could feel the scrutiny they were under from their own jobs to full fill but also added to this one was the media pressure element. they've also got to unpick whats real and whats just a facade in the world the victim lived in.
this instalment takes DCI Christine to a fatal accident. the victim is a former supermodel Koi amongst a family of those online peeps. ugh. her boss cautions her of the look upon them for this investigation, as in all eyes. the media attention will also be huge. great, no pressure for Christine then.
pretty soon there is unease amongst all this. the family, the way they react is all a bit off. and the manager is certainly giving off vibes.
the gang are all back together for this one and it was such an exciting read. the atmosphere is on point and the setting gives you more of a punch and feeling of unease and mystery.
there is lots to unpack in this book and we are given hints and secrets all around. you feel like you are with them deep in this investigation. the tension builds and things get smaller and more hemmed in. and some all too questionable characters were woven throughout. i mean wow these folk could all have a book about themselves and maybe need a doctor or two!but does this make them capable of murder or wrong doing. is there even wrong doing that went on here? the manager needs a good boot up the bum and out of there. he doesn't deserve to be involved with people. especially those hes treating as he does.

Koi, ex-supermodel and face of lifestyle brand the Sunflower Company, is #livingmybestlife in a Scottish castle with her famous family of nepo babies and influencers. Everything they do is posed, filtered and spun for the perfect story. Even when Koi is found on the rocks at the foot of a cliff, the media juggernaut rolls on, with the image of her body, battered and bleeding, splashed across every social platform around the world.

I found this a little slow to begin with but once the characters were established it picked up the pace and was difficult to put down in the end. As you would expect from this author, it's well written with some great scene setting and characterisation.

Ramsay can be counted on for a great police procedural with a twist here or there, and she does it again in this 4th book of the CI Caplan series. Caplan is sent in to make the death go away quickly, to keep a media uproar at bay. But the victim's family has other ideas-media influencers at their peak, old habits die hard for them, even in their grief. But is it grief? The family business rules all is rubbing Caplan the wrong way, and she senses something is off in the castle, and there is much more to the death than it appears. As she and her team keep finding subtle clues, it soon becomes a race against time to keep any more harm coming to other members of the family, as the truth comes out. A real page turner for the last third of the book, don't miss this stand alone book of the series!

I have read all of Carl’s book so know that the writing will be good and the plot well thought out! This is developing into a great series. Strong female lead detective but with a softer side. This story has echoes of the Kardashians and other celebrity families. How much of what we read is true and how much is manipulated ‘fake news’? Puppet masters pulling the strings in the social media world but at what cost to the individuals whose lives are cosmetically manufactured for clicks and likes. Lots of characters with secrets, lots of scenes set up to support the social media needs. At the heart of the story is the loss of the mother. How the tragedy unfolds and how it affects the others in the family show how fragile their lives really are. Looking forward to the next episode!

This is the 4th book in this series featuring DCI Caplan and Detective Superintendent Adam Spencer assigns her to the case at Tirsvaig Castle. This story features Koi an ex-supermodel who falls to her death off a cliff and the investigation is to focus on was this a terrible accident or was she murdered.

Koi was part of a group called the Sunflower girls who rose to fame and took the world by storm, one has also died in suspicious circumstances. Along with her husband, children and stepchildren their lives are managed and dominated by a manager who will do anything to keep them in the limelight and have them make money.

Everything is not what it seems, and all their lives are staged for the public who cannot get enough of them. But with celebrity comes a tragic tale of lives who are nowhere near as blessed as the world sems to think. The book is well written, and I was taken into this strange world wondering what really happened to Koi and DCI Caplan struggle to find answers. Evidence is thin and this family will do her no favors; this will be a case that will very much test her. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions expressed are my own.

This one was one of my favourites! This book really kept the suspense the whole thing! Another thing I loved was being able to see the character development through the characters. It was honestly lovely. I enjoyed everything about this book

Thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for ARC.
DCI Christine Caplan was transferred sideways to a remote highland station some time ago. Family life is complicated and looks like it's about to become more so. When a call comes in to investigate the suspicious disappearance of a famous supermodel who with her influencer children and famous husband have decamped to an even more remote Highland spot, it seems simple. Accident or deliberate? Disappearance or death?

She quickly discovers the family has secrets they are willing to keep and that none of them want the truth to stand in the way of a good legend.

This is the fourth in a new series of police procedurals by the ever-reliable Ramsay. Caplan is a deeply flawed protagonist, but not in the cliched 'rogue cop with no home life and a peanut butter habit' way, more just a perimenopausal woman trying to get on with her life and not muck up her family's life or her career any more than is necessary. The plot is a teeny bit simple despite the diversions, but I just went with it and the denouement was satisfying in a quiet way. Already looking forward to Caplan's next case.

Did the supermodel fall, jump, or was she pushed to the bottom of the cliff on the castle grounds? DCI Caplan is a very grounded professional but digging around in the shadow world of extreme publicity tests even her patience and that of her team. Good police work in a riveting story! Pub Date Aug 05, 2025
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected proof copy from Severn House via NetGalley.
#WhereSheLies by #CaroRamsay #DCIChristineCaplanThrillersBk4 @severnhouseimprint #NetGalley
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I am really loving this series featuring DCI Caplan, her team and her family. Caplan is a very likeable character, as is her complex husband and her children. I feel like we are really getting to know them much better in this latest well written story. This one is very atmospheric as Caplan investigates the disappearance of a woman from a castle. It is filled with lies, suspense, family ties and secrets, with touches of humour throughout.. I can highly recommend the whole series, although this can be read as a stand alone. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Another great read from the Christine Caplan series. Some rather unusual characters in her team which meant for interesting scenarios. A different premise which was refreshing. Very well written. Look forward to the next instalment.

Caro Ramsay’s Where She Lies is the fourth book in the Christine Caplan Scottish police procedural series. A dead supermodel at the foot of a cliff, a camera-hungry family of “nepo babies,” and a detective who won’t be manipulated by anyone.
Koi, once a supermodel and now the flawless face of the wildly popular Sunflower Company, is found dead at the bottom of a cliff outside her luxurious Scottish castle. Was it a tragic accident? A cry for help? Or something far more sinister?

DCI Christine Caplan is assigned the case and it is her job to uncover what actually happened to Koi while dealing with all the influencers and media pressure. But when she starts delving into this PR-polished family she uncovers more than just secrets revealing a culture built on performance, illusion, and control.

I enjoy the character of Christine Caplan who is a no nonsense detective and was always going to clash with the surrounding media circus in this story. She is a woman not to be messed with and her tenacity is impressive.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Severn House for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

DCI Christine Caplan Series #4

A castle in Scotland, an ex-supermodel and a tragic death pulls DCI Christine Caplan onto a new case. Was it a tragic accidental fall rom the cliffside, a suicide or was it a murder and if its the later, who would want this beautiful ex-model dead. There will never be no shortage of suspects this one. Beware the book is written with past and present time frames.

This has all the elements I enjoy reading in a police mystery. A strong lead female character and a plot that has many possible ways in which it can go as well as being written in a way the lay person can understand.

The writing is smooth, clear, and very descriptive. The characters are well developed with this being the 4th book. Looking forward to the next book

DCI Christine Caplan is called to investigate the suspicious death of supermodel and influencer Koi, killed by a fall from cliffs near the castle she shares with her famous family of husband, kids and manager. It’s unclear whether she jumped, fell or was pushed and the family’s lack of openness about what happened doesn’t help solve a case which has caught the world’s imagination.

I’ve enjoyed this series of books and this, too, was a decent read but the pacing felt a little slow at times and the large cast of characters didn’t capture my imagination quite as much as the others have. It’s a good storyline though and Caplan is still an interesting character, so while not my favourite instalment, it’s still an entertaining read. 3.5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

Where She Lies is a very good read full of intrigue and mystery. Caro Ramsay has excelled and come up with a story that has all I like - great writing which drew me in quickly and a good plot that kept me guessing. Caplan and her team investigate when a local celebrity falls to her death. I enjoyed following Caplan, Craigo, Mackie and the team who have to dig deep and work out what is truth and what isn't to determine what happened to Koi, all while under heavy media scrutiny. I love the humour the author brings to her writing and the banter between the characters. The descriptions of the castle, its remoteness added so much atmosphere to the story in my opinion and I could picture it in my mind when reading. I couldn't stand most of Koi's family although I did feel some empathy for her and resonated with her feelings more towards the end of the book. I correctly guessed the ending which gives the story good closure.

If you're a fan of police procedurals I'd recommend this although woukd say read the series in order to know the characters from the beginning.

4 stars

While reading WHERE SHE LIES, I pondered if I should classify it as a 'Guilty Pleasures' experience—a book with no substance that still kept me turning pages. Sometimes I simply enjoy a good sleazy read. WHERE SHE LIES met some of my 'Guilty Pleasures' criteria:
(1) a story I wanted to continue as soon as I'd rested my weary eyes;
(2) slimy characters;
(3) mentally unstable characters;
(4) a ridiculous plot line that required suspending belief; and
(5) one that I'd forget within a few weeks.

Certainly the main mystery falls well into the 'Guilty Pleasures' criteria. A famous 'influencer' (and former supermodel) named Koi lies at the bottom of a jagged cliff near a Scottish castle owned by her family corporation. DCI Christine Caplan is called in to determine whether she accidentally fell, committed suicide, or was pushed. There are photos of her bloodied body lying in the rocks, but an exhaustive search does not recover this body, and soon another question arises—is she dead?

Koi's entire family lived with her in the castle—her famous photographer husband, her natural and adopted children, and a Svengali manager/promoter named Pomeroy. Most of them seem to have mental health issues, except for Pomeroy, who seems to be downright evil from the beginning of the narrative. The 'guilty pleasures' segment of this story arises mainly from Christine untangling the various issues that have caused the children's mental disorders.

I consider the police procedural section of Christine untangling all the sleazy connections, and consequently solving the mystery of Koi's fall to be worth 3.5 stars, which I would have rounded up to 4 stars. However, I did not like the segments of the novel that concentrated on Christine Caplan's family. They were an irritating 2-star read for me. Also, I did not like the conclusion. Some readers praised the conclusion, but this was actually an Epilogue that took place several months after the investigation was finished; I knew from about the 25% point onward that this was what had happened to Koi. But the concluding part of the investigation section was a downer overall, with only a couple of uplifting developments.

So, it was an average read for me—one I enjoyed but didn't find better than average. This was #4 in the DCI Christine Caplan series. I read #3 a year ago, and although I re-read my review, I couldn't recall anything about that plot or about Christine Caplan and her family. However, remember that average for me means that at least I found it interesting enough to read quickly to the end, and didn't stop and stutter trying to finish it. There are so many poor mysteries being published these days that a three-star from me means it has merit, just not noteworthy merit.

Thanks to Severn House for providing an electronic copy of this book via NetGallry. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions.

I love Caro Ramsay’s Caplan series, and Where She Lies does not disappoint. Ramsay delivers everything I crave in a mystery—complex characters, morally murky motives, and twisty plots that keep me guessing right up to the final pages.

This installment drops us into the murky world of the ultra-online influencer elite, as DCI Christine Caplan is called to a glamorous (and slightly sinister) Scottish castle turned celeb wedding venue. A young “It Girl” and ex-supermodel named Koi—face of a lifestyle empire—has been found dead on the rocks below a cliff, but where is the body? Was it a tragic accident, a staged suicide, or something far darker? Caplan must pick her way through a minefield of curated personas, brand deals, and weaponized grief to uncover the truth.

The family at the heart of this story is gloriously dysfunctional—nepo babies, fame addicts, and master manipulators—and Ramsay writes them with delicious precision. Every one of them is hiding something, and none of them seem particularly interested in helping Caplan unless there’s an opportunity for a photo op or a follower boost. The misdirection is masterful; just when you think you’ve figured it out, Ramsay pulls the rug out from under you again.

And the setting! The brooding Highland castle, windswept cliffs, and the ever-present scrutiny of the press and social media give the whole novel a gothic-meets-modern vibe that I absolutely devoured.

Caplan remains one of the most compelling detectives in Scottish crime fiction—sharp, no-nonsense, and endlessly human. Her internal struggles add depth without ever slowing the pace.

If you love smart, atmospheric crime with plenty of red herrings and a killer final twist, Where She Lies is an absolute must-read. Caro Ramsay just keeps getting better.

This was so good I loved it nail biting thriller I loved every minute of it thank you so much for allowing me to read this book

‘Where She Lies’,by Caro Ramsay, is book four in the consistently very enjoyable DCI Christine Caplan thriller series.This latest case for Caplan and her team takes her into the unreal world of a sheltered castle dwelling celebrity family where nothing is released into the public domain without being first filtered to achieve maximum media exposure and impact.When the police are called into investigate the suspicious circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the body of Koi,the supermodel mother of the extended troubled family,who may have fallen or been pushed from a cliff top,there are more questions than easy answers.Leaked photos of her bloodied body promote even more public scrutiny,and the need to complete their enquiries thoroughly.
The problems that Christine faces in her own family circle also bring into sharp focus those who cleverly manipulate situations to achieve their own ends and control the narrative, putting even more pressure on her already difficult professional responsibilities.
Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House,for an Advance Readers Copy.