literary gluttony

Set in the quiet Cumbrian town of Kirkby Lonsdale, Shame On Them follows Detective Chief Inspector Josh Mills, a man still haunted by personal tragedy, as a string of murders forces him to confront old wounds and long-buried cases. Alongside newcomer DS Fiona Mitchell, Josh investigates deaths that may be connected to past crimes — including the loss of his own son — while a shadow from the past looms over the investigation. As secrets unravel, the detectives must determine whether the truth lies in coincidence, obsession, or something far darker.

I always go into a new crime series hopeful — especially a debut — because there’s something exciting about discovering characters you’ll want to follow for multiple books. Unfortunately, Shame On Them didn’t quite deliver the gripping experience I was hoping for.

The biggest issue for me was that this book desperately needed a strong editor. The writing often felt repetitive, with descriptions and ideas restated multiple times in close succession. Instead of reinforcing tension, the repetition slowed the pacing and made the story feel longer than it actually was. Scenes that should have built suspense instead dragged, pulling me out of the investigation rather than deeper into it.

Characterization was another struggle. While Josh Mills and Fiona Mitchell both arrive with compelling backstory potential — grief, trauma, and personal demons — the execution left them feeling surprisingly flat. I kept waiting for emotional depth or meaningful growth that would make me truly invest in them, but most interactions stayed surface-level. Their personalities felt more like outlines than fully realized people, which made it difficult to connect with the stakes of the investigation.

The plot itself had promise, particularly with its intertwining past and present cases, but it ultimately felt lackluster. The mystery unfolds in a fairly predictable way, and the pacing never quite finds momentum. Instead of escalating tension, the narrative moves steadily but without urgency, leaving the investigation feeling oddly muted for a crime thriller.

And then there’s the ending.

After spending the entire novel building toward resolution, the conclusion felt less than satisfying. It didn’t deliver the emotional or narrative payoff I was expecting, and I finished the book feeling more indifferent than surprised or impacted — never a great sign for a mystery meant to keep readers on edge.

That said, I do want to acknowledge that this is a debut novel, and there are glimpses of potential here. The setting is atmospheric, and the foundation for a long-running detective series exists. With tighter editing, stronger character development, and sharper pacing, future installments could improve significantly.

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🍽️ Devour or Nibble?

Nibble.

If you’re a die-hard police procedural reader who enjoys slower investigations and doesn’t mind rough edges in a debut, this might still work for you. But for readers looking for compelling characters, tight plotting, and a satisfying payoff, this one may leave you wanting more — just not in the way a mystery should.