The Drowning Glen
(2026)(The fifth book in the DI James Corstophine series)
A novel by Andrew James Greig
A haunting Scottish crime thriller from CWA New Blood Dagger longlistee and McIlvanney Prize finalist Andrew James Greig – perfect for fans of LJ Ross, Ian Rankin, and Val McDermid.
‘Noah! Noah! Are you alright?’ Anita’s panicked voice echoed uselessly back to her. She felt the blow to her head, then the world faded into darkness. The passenger door was hanging open. The car was empty. Her son was gone.
In the rain-lashed glens beneath Ben Nevis, Detective Inspector James Corstorphine arrives at an isolated road – a dead-zone for mobile signals, miles from the nearest house. The one place a mother might be forced to leave her child alone.
Then forensics find spikes in her tyres and it’s clear this was no breakdown. Someone had been waiting on that road – someone who knew Anita’s route, her routine, and the precise stretch where her phone would fall silent.
Corstorphine turns to Anita’s only neighbours – a handful of households scattered across the hillside, each with reason to stay quiet. A community where everyone is keeping something back. And when he discovers what Anita has been hiding from her own family, he understands that the secret that took the boy is older, darker, and closer to home than anyone in these hills wants to admit. The longer it stays buried, the smaller the chance of finding Noah alive.
Perfect for readers who love:
- A haunting Scottish crime thriller set in a remote Highland community
- A flawed, dogged detective unravelling a small-town conspiracy
- A missing-child mystery rooted in long-buried secrets
- Atmospheric tartan noir with a strong sense of place
- A page-turning police procedural you can read in one sitting
The fifth Detective Corstorphine novel – readable as a complete standalone, perfect whether you’re returning to the series or meeting James Corstorphine for the first time.
Readers love the Detective Corstorphine series:
‘A must-read for fans of Val McDermid, Ann Cleeves, and anyone who loves their thrillers dark, intelligent, and utterly unputdownable. Prepare to be up all night!’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'''Absolutely blew my socks off, it’s brilliant! A real page turner that I finished in a few hours - once I had started, I just didn't want to stop. Continuing from book one, I really like the characters that the author has created for this series. Easy to connect with them. So this is much more than just a police procedural. There are things to make you laugh, too. (Like a taser firing, very much ouch!)’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A heart pounding thriller that keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat… The rugged landscape of Scotland provides an atmospheric backdrop that only heightens the reading experience. This is definitely one not to be missed.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Tense, twisty, and literally edge of your seat! Great series that pulls you in with a complex and super suspenseful plot and a team that you really get engaged with.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Hold onto your hat, you’re in for another wild ride! This was excellent.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Mystery
‘Noah! Noah! Are you alright?’ Anita’s panicked voice echoed uselessly back to her. She felt the blow to her head, then the world faded into darkness. The passenger door was hanging open. The car was empty. Her son was gone.
In the rain-lashed glens beneath Ben Nevis, Detective Inspector James Corstorphine arrives at an isolated road – a dead-zone for mobile signals, miles from the nearest house. The one place a mother might be forced to leave her child alone.
Then forensics find spikes in her tyres and it’s clear this was no breakdown. Someone had been waiting on that road – someone who knew Anita’s route, her routine, and the precise stretch where her phone would fall silent.
Corstorphine turns to Anita’s only neighbours – a handful of households scattered across the hillside, each with reason to stay quiet. A community where everyone is keeping something back. And when he discovers what Anita has been hiding from her own family, he understands that the secret that took the boy is older, darker, and closer to home than anyone in these hills wants to admit. The longer it stays buried, the smaller the chance of finding Noah alive.
Perfect for readers who love:
- A haunting Scottish crime thriller set in a remote Highland community
- A flawed, dogged detective unravelling a small-town conspiracy
- A missing-child mystery rooted in long-buried secrets
- Atmospheric tartan noir with a strong sense of place
- A page-turning police procedural you can read in one sitting
The fifth Detective Corstorphine novel – readable as a complete standalone, perfect whether you’re returning to the series or meeting James Corstorphine for the first time.
Readers love the Detective Corstorphine series:
‘A must-read for fans of Val McDermid, Ann Cleeves, and anyone who loves their thrillers dark, intelligent, and utterly unputdownable. Prepare to be up all night!’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'''Absolutely blew my socks off, it’s brilliant! A real page turner that I finished in a few hours - once I had started, I just didn't want to stop. Continuing from book one, I really like the characters that the author has created for this series. Easy to connect with them. So this is much more than just a police procedural. There are things to make you laugh, too. (Like a taser firing, very much ouch!)’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A heart pounding thriller that keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat… The rugged landscape of Scotland provides an atmospheric backdrop that only heightens the reading experience. This is definitely one not to be missed.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Tense, twisty, and literally edge of your seat! Great series that pulls you in with a complex and super suspenseful plot and a team that you really get engaged with.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Hold onto your hat, you’re in for another wild ride! This was excellent.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Mystery