Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Winter Dead by Lynne McEwan Series: Detective Shona Oliver #6
Published by Canelo on November 6, 2025
Genres: Mystery, Thriller
Pages: 352
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
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How do you solve a murder when you don’t have the body?
A blood-soaked hammer is discovered in a lorryload of wood delivered to a local pub. DI Shona Oliver appears to have a murder weapon, but where is the victim?
Then a call comes in that local forest ranger and ex-soldier John MacFarlane isn’t answering his phone. There’s no sign of MacFarlane at his cottage, and the only clue the team have to go on is a bloody trail in the snow which ends abruptly and leads to nowhere. A manhunt begins.
The Detective Shona Oliver series is a police procedural set in Scotland. Shona Oliver is a Detective Inspector. I would read these books in order for the personal growth and relationships. Her husband, Rob is still in jail. Her daughter, Becca has now gone to University.
Shona is helping unload wood and finds a bloody hammer. This has her and er team seeking out injured or dead people. Unfortunately, a huge storm is hitting. They find a big puddle of blood in front a park ranger’s home, and start to search for him They have a few avenues as he was mad at a poacher for hurting a golden eagle, he might be concerned about someone stealing the wood from the forest and the ranger was also having an affair.
Shona’s team is very competent and they follow the leads and gather information. They are barely started and another man, a well known poet is missing. He was out on a walkabout but with the storm his wife is worried. So they have two searches going but the areas are close and overlapping.
Personally, Shona has the cases. She is worried about the NCA still looking into her ex-boss’ death. She misses Dan Ridley, a work colleague as he transferred. She misses Becca away at university. They talk often and then Becca’s flat mate is stabbed and nearly dies. She remembers a colleague at the MOD and asks him to look into things and Becca. He is more than helpful and is clearly a solid new friend.
The cases are complex and well-written. Shona’s personal life seems to improve throughout with a great team at work and some new friends personally. I like Shona and would like to see her a little more comfortable and happy. She’s so competent. A new wrench in her personal life comes up at the end, which leaves me hoping for the next book, sooner than later.
About Lynne McEwan
Glasgow-born Lynne McEwan is a former newspaper photographer turned crime author. She’s covered stories including the Fall of the Berlin Wall and the first Gulf War in addition to many high profile murder cases. Her DI Shona Oliver series is set on the beautiful Solway Firth which forms the border between Scotland and England, and where Shona is also a lifeboat volunteer. Lynne is a graduate of the University of East Anglia’s Creative Writing programme and splits her time between Lincolnshire and Scotland.
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 25-COYER
I like that there’s more to the story than just the mystery. This sounds very good!
I like this series and this one was a better one.
I like the sound of a police procedural set in Scotland. Great review, Anne💜
Thanks Jonetta. It’s a pretty good series.
Set in Scotland? That’s one of my most favorite places…to visit or read about.
The atmosphere of the place is a character too.
I love the setting. I will see if my library has them 🙂
These were at the library when I read them except the first one as a freebie but they don’t seem to be now.
This series does sound good.
I enjoy this series. The Scotland setting is interesting.