Con Fairchild is Lady Constance Fairchild, though her title is not something she would dream of using. The tabloids refer to her as ‘the Posh Cop’ ever since she uncovered a web of corruption which led to the murder of her old boss. The is another in the Constance Fairchild series by James Oswald and once again marries a thriller with the supernatural. Great to have references to the Mabinogi and other Welsh legends in it and so much use of the Welsh language too.

I really enjoy the sense of something other worldly that imbues these books; just out of reach of explanation, never tangible enough to grasp, but there in plain sight, all the same. The ambiguity of dealing with ritualistic crimes and looking for legal justice leads to a fascinating and utterly compelling tension that keeps the reader transfixed. I think I can safely say that I'm a fan of James Oswald's work and I particularly like his character DC Constance Fairchild, otherwise known as Con. She is one tough cookie and this is shown in all its glory here. The launching pad in the first book in the series, Natural Causes, is the murder of a renowned Edinburgh figure. The local police view it as godsend when they nab the murderer within a day. Unfortunately for the police, the murderer commits suicide shortly thereafter before it can go trial. However, it becomes more than a mere coincidence when the process is re-enacted. There is another murder and, by the same token, the murderer, owns up before taking his own life! Cons mum seems to always be attracted by cult leaders who she donates money too. As we find again in this story. The featured protagonist in the two aforementioned books is Anthony McLean, a police inspector. McLean is a homicide detective who was orphaned at an early age. He was reared by his grandmother who, after being in a comatose for quite some time, died of stroke.

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As ever with Mr Oswald there is a hint of the otherworldly. It’s incredibly nebulous and mostly there is a rational explanation but still... This is reinforced by the ritualistic nature of the mutilations which adds to the swirl, just because you don’t share the murderer’s beliefs and their reason for killing it doesn’t make the victims any less dead. I never know what to make of it but I enjoy the dubiety of it all. Nothing to Hide is a terrific addition to the series. It’s very interesting to follow DC Constance Fairchild’s career and to follow her relationship with her family and colleagues. As this new case gains momentum and more victims are discovered, Con finds herself on a journey to Edinburgh in the hope of unearthing more about the victim found near her flat. She remains officially off-duty and works somewhat outside of her legitimate parameters. While in Edinburgh, Con encounters characters who may be familiar to readers of James Oswald’s McLean series. I love how the two series ‘accidentally’ overlap and how James Oswald subtly weaves these characters into each separate plot-line. This book can be read as a stand-alone book but I would recommend you read the first in the series before reading this one (No Time to Cry) a lot more of the story will make sense especially relating to Izzy, who is Cons half sister as well as other references that pop up all the way through the story. However that is just my personal opinion. I've loved most of James Oswald's books up until now, his development of mystery and atmosphere and his patient and gradual hinting at and coaching the supernatural into the Inspector McLean series was a joy to behold. The first book in this series was also very decent with a very different lead character coming through a quite harrowing story.

s there such a thing as magnetic energy? If there is, I’m pretty sure Con Fairchild has it. Everywhere she goes, she attracts those whose energy has different vibrations. Sometimes these are good; as often pretty bad, but she is incapable of going through life unaffected by the energy that pulls on the warp and weft of the world. I really, really wanted to love this. James Oswald is one of my favourite authors, and although I didn’t enjoy the first Con Fairchild book as much as his Inspector McLean series, I hoped that this second Con Fairchild book would be different. Another inmate murders the perpetrator, who has been jailed for over a decade. As such, detective McLean is surprised to discover a reenactment of the festive season serial killings, prompting him to conclude that he either arrested the wrong person or the act was imitated.Having read and thoroughly enjoyed No Time To Cry by James Oswald, I was delighted to finally get the opportunity to read the second book in this fantastic crime fiction series, Nothing to Hide. It feels like the investigation is happening elsewhere. You feel more like a spectator than being really involved at times. And being subjected to repeated insults, abuse and misogyny may be realistic (or not, don’t know), but it’s not that enjoyable to read when it’s so constant. There’s not a lot of relief in terms of humour or interaction with more sympathetic or empathetic characters. To be honest, I could live with Con’s tiresomeness if the plot had been as exciting/dark/weird as Oswald’s McLean books. Unfortunately, Con is not in McLean’s league in any respect. She doesn’t appear to be much of an investigator – she spends much of the book wandering around aimlessly, occasionally stumbling into a clue. She also goes to a family wedding and two funerals, and stays with family friends. At no point did she seem to really care about the murders she was allegedly investigating (or indeed about her job). Her mother introduces her to an imposing figure, The Reverend Dr Edward Masters of the Church of the Coming Light. She knows their name because she has seen them taking some of the homeless and drug addicts off the streets in London, near where she lives. James Oswald is known for the Tony McLean series of Edinburgh-set police procedurals, and if you're a fan of those, I'd recommend trying this second series, featuring a young female cop, Con Fairchild, who lives in London (though she travels a fair amount in the books).

The first thing that really draws me into James Oswald’s novel is the feeling of place, I love the rural Wales setting – the detail on Aberystwyth and the surrounding area really makes the book sing – it reminds me of childhood holidays to the Welsh coast; the high cliffs, hidden coves, and smugglers caves. James Oswald is one of my favourite crime authors and I have enjoyed all of his novels for their intricate plots and memorable characters, as well as his respectful integration of the otherworldly into his narratives.

I really like Con, she’s strong, independent and certainly feisty and dogged in her determination to find the truth. I’ll certainly be looking out for the next in the series. Trouble always seems to find her, and even if she has nothing to hide, perhaps she has everything to lose . . .