From Publishers Weekly
Constable Jamie Worth, a newly qualified Strathclyde firearms officer, views himself as a John Wayne sharpshooter with a Glasgow swagger, but after he shoots Sarah Brisbane, an unarmed teenager fleeing a domestic disturbance, his life and the lives of his wife, Cath, and their children, devolve into chaos in this searing sequel to Campbell's
The Twilight Time. Jamie's marriage was already strained by an affair with Insp. Anna Cameron, a former associate who becomes a U.K. representative on the U.N.'s Police and Justice Task Force for three months in New York. After failing to secure a long-term appointment, Anna returns to Glasgow only to learn of Jamie's murder conviction. Despite their mutual distaste, Anna and Cath join forces to prove Jamie's innocence. Campbell deftly explores the horrifying repercussions of a botched investigation and a miscarriage of justice. The heart-wrenching portrait of Sarah, who was caught in a nasty web of family abuse, adds to the book's power.
(Feb.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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Review
'The plot is wonderful, the characterisation of a family in crisis is both sharp and sympathetic, and the author does not shy away from examining the less palatable aspects of relations between the police and the public.' -- Guardian 'Bigger than the sum of its parts, and transcending its thriller label, this is a canvas of human nature ... of love and loss and heartbreak and how ordinary people recover after the fire. If you can contain all this in one novel, and contain it well, that'll be what makes it so good.' -- Scotland on Sunday 20090315 'Both a gripping thriller and a moving psychological study, AFTER THE FIRE shows Campbell, herself a former police officer, to be a writer of immense talent and emotional power, and on the brink of huge success.' -- Daily Express 20090315 'The characters from Campbell's blistering debut The Twilight Time return and they bring with them the sharp, perceptive prose and meticulous attention to detail that are fast establishing the author as a literary force to be reckoned with.' -- Daily Record 20090315 'Looks set to cement her reputation ... she handles this topical and gripping tale with expert skill.' -- News of the World 20090315 'Raw, real and so evocative you can almost hear the screams. Bang those drums and get the word out... if this debut is a true reflection of her talent then she's going to be huge.' -- Daily Record 20080421 'A cracking plot.' -- Daily Mail 20090313 'Campbell's debut is a rare example of a crime novel which, in the energy of the writing and finely observed detail, transcends genre limitations.' -- The List 20080428 'powered by stiletto-sharp prose... a pertinent expose of the contamination seeping into lives from prostitution and a drugs economy ruled by money-laundering thugs. But against this background, her story also vividly illustrates the physical and emotional damage caused to police officers by the vile reality of their work.' -- The Herald on THE TWILIGHT TIME 20080224 'I loved it. Anna is a great, original character and Karen Campbell has a great way with images.' -- Kate Atkinson on THE TWILIGHT TIME 20071114 '..enough pace and atmosphere to give the likes of Denise Mina a run for their money.' -- Mark Billingham on THE TWILIGHT TIME 20071207
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