Saturday, 23 August 2025

The Other Side of Fear by Douglas Skelton

It's my pleasure today to be sharing my review of The Other Side of Fear, the last in the series featuring young journalist Rebecca Connolly, by Douglas Skelton. Douglas will be appearing at the Bloody Scotland Crime Festival on Friday 12th September - more on that later. Many thanks to Kelly Lacey at Love Books Tours for inviting me and to the publisher for my gifted copy.
 


The Blurb

There are two sides to everything, and fear isn't any different – sometimes you have to push through to the other side . . .

Someone has big plans for Stoirm, and they'll stop at nothing to get what they want.

Investigative journalist Rebecca Connolly returns to the Scottish island to find out who is terrorising the locals who favour a community buyout of the estate over plans by a faceless consortium to turn it into an upmarket playground for the rich and shameless.

But before she even sets off, she is threatened by two men, men who are no strangers to inflicting pain. Rebecca being Rebecca, this only serves to heighten her curiosity, and she heads for the island, leaving behind romantic troubles and, she thinks, a young woman set on making her name in journalism.

It isn't long before threats become murder and Rebecca finds herself in mortal danger from an old adversary among the breaking waves of Thunder Bay.



My Review

Stoirm is not somewhere that holds happy memories for Rebecca, other than meeting her best friends there, but she will always chase after a story. So, when she's contacted by a couple of residents concerned about a series of incidents on the island, it seems the perfect place to escape the mess she's making of her love life. When she's approached by a couple of men, who are both very polite and threatening (and who have the best names!) it just confirms to her that there is definitely a story to chase and a few threatening words are not going to stop her. But things begin to escalate once Rebecca is on the island as  vandalism turns to murder and soon Rebecca is in very grave danger. 

Regular visitors to my little blog will know I'm a big fan of Douglas Skelton's work and, whilst I'm not up to date with all of my reviews, if you search his name you'll find several that I have written. I have followed Rebecca from the beginning and watched her develop across the books, and it's great to have her back. She's hugely likeable (to the reader, anyway, if perhaps not to all of her interviewees) determined, thorough, frustrating, headstrong, loyal, but prone to messing up her personal life, often putting work first. The books in this series are more slow burning than some of the author's other work, but no less engaging. The characterisation is brilliant - we see a few returning faces in this book, most of whom I was pleased to see. It was particularly good to see Bill and Val back and I loved the wee hint of the unknown around their relationship.

Away from the characters, place is so important. Skelton is wonderful at scene building and whilst the Isle of Stoirm isn't a real place it certainly feels like it is. Douglas's love of the Scottish countryside is clear to see, and there's a sense of coming full circle with the denouement at Thunder Bay, with waves crashing on the shore. Whilst this isn't a 'kick the door down, go in guns blazing' style of book, there is lots going on to hold the reader's interest as the plot thickens. There is plenty of tension and a palpable sense of dread, particularly in the second half of the book. 

The Other Side of Fear is the last of the Rebecca Connolly novels, and whilst I'm sad to say goodbye to this brave young woman, it's a fitting, beautifully written end to her adventures. Loved it. Douglas Skelton is a brilliant author to whom I have not done here justice in this review, and if you're not familiar with his work I urge you to check it out. This series is as good a place to start as any.


The Author

From Douglas 's social media feed

Douglas Skelton was born in Glasgow. He has been a bank clerk, tax officer, taxi driver (for two days), wine waiter (for two hours), journalist and investigator. He has written several true crime and Scottish criminal history books but now concentrates on fiction. The Other Side of Fear is his 18th novel (he has also written two novellas) Thunder Bay (longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize), The Blood Is Still, A Rattle of Bones,  Where Demons Hide, Children of the Most and The Hollow Mountain are the other novels in the bestselling Rebecca Connolly thriller series.

Bloody Scotland Panel

Douglas will be appearing at Bloody Scotland this year. You can book your tickets on the  Bloody Scotland website

Deadline News: Douglas Skelton, Philip Miller, Charlotte Philby Friday 12th Sept / 2-3pm / Trinity Church / £9/£8


Hot off the press: Three terrific writers, all of whom have journalists as their central protagonists, set the standard as they create page-turning thrillers perfect for these troubled times. The Other Side of Fear is the latest thrilling outing for Douglas Skelton’s investigative journalist Rebecca Connolly as murder haunts the island of Stoirm. The Hollow Tree sees the return of Philip Miller’s defiant reporter Shona Sandison in a beguiling trip into the occult. Charlotte Philby’s stylish Dirty Money introduces journalist turned private investigator Ramona Chang in a plot shimmering with menace and effortless cool. This event will be chaired by journalist and blogger Louise Fairbairn.



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