Marion Todd’s new crime thriller Next in Line published today

Next in Line, the fifth book in Marion Todd‘s acclaimed DI Clare Mackay series, is published today by Canelo. Set in St Andrews on Scotland’s East Fife coast, it sees Clare try to unravel the mystery of a murder during a party at a glamorous lodge.

Gaby Fox is known to many due to her successful TV career, so when her brother and his pals hire the salubrious Lamond Lodge for his birthday celebrations, it is noted by the St Andrews locals. A ripple of shock goes round the town when Russell Fox is gunned down on the premises.

DI Clare Mackay is attending a wedding when she sees Gabrielle receive a phone call then flee. Soon after, Clare learns why when the news of the shooting reaches her. Instead of trying to enjoy the day – not easy when the groom is her ex-boyfriend – Clare is preoccupied.

Clare gets to work on uncovering the facts surrounding Russell Fox’s death. The guests at the lodge have secrets to hide, but even when Clare begins to unravel the deceit, it doesn’t bring the answers. The detective can’t help but wonder why no one who knew Russell seems capable of telling the truth, and whether there is more than one person with a reason to want him dead…

A native of Dundee, Marion studied music with the Open University and worked for many years as a piano teacher and jobbing accompanist. A spell as a hotel lounge pianist provided rich fodder for her writing and she began experimenting with a variety of genres. Early success saw her winning first prize in the Family Circle Magazine short story for children national competition and she followed this up by writing short stories and articles for her local newspaper.

Now a full-time writer, Marion lives in North-east Fife, overlooking the River Tay. Her debut crime novel See Them Run, the first in the DI Clare Mackay series, was published by Canelo in October 2019 and the series has gone on to be a huge success.