Against the Tide by G.D. Wright review: The best in the series yet
The strongest entry in an incredible, powerfully emotive series.
Against the Tide by G.D. Wright: Key details
- Publish date: 18 June 2026
- Genre: Thriller
- Publisher: Avon
- Available formats: Paperback, audio and ebook
- Series/standalone: Book 3 in DS Sue Wilmott series
- Length: 410 pages
Blurb: DC Vinny Robson has spent his career seeking justice for others, but when an elderly couple are violently murdered in his hometown of Beachbrook, the investigation takes a devastating turn – one that cuts straight through his own family.
As Vinny dives deeper, the case becomes more than a pursuit of a killer – it’s a fight against the undertow of his own past. But in chasing the truth, will he finally find justice, or will he drown in the wreckage of everything he thought he knew?
Some truths should stay submerged. But once the tide turns, there’s no stopping what comes to light.
Against the Tide by G.D. Wright: The review
Where do I even start with Against the Tide? Wright’s series so far has had us questioning our own morals, uncovering twists, had our hearts in our mouths for multiple characters, and a whole lot more. And yet, Against the Tide might be the most powerful book in the trilogy. I sobbed as I read this, and I could not put it down. I don’t manage to read many books in less than 24 hours, but this one was devoured in about 12.
While there is, once again, a dark crime at the heart of Against the Tide, much of the story focuses on DC Vinny Robson, who ends up with a very personal connection to the case he’s working on. Of course, we also get to know more of DS Sue Wilmott, who now feels even more like a fully-formed character rather than ‘just’ the detective working a case. We’ll get a deeper look into her home and personal life, and her struggle to balance work and home become a key focus here. It’s very relatable, and very well written.
So too is Vinny and the struggles he is facing. He’s recently lost his dad, and his mum is in a home, having lost much of herself to dementia. If he didn’t already have enough to cope with, the case he’s working on – involving a murdered elderly couple – might just change everything he thought he knew about his own family.
Just as in Into the Fire, Wright brings the twists and drama time and again; just when you think you’ve experienced everything, there’s something else around the corner. It’s an emotional tour de force; brilliantly written and so easy to read (and impossible to put down).
This truly is a series that is going from strength to strength; all three books are excellent, but this one stands head and shoulders above. It feels like Wright has found his stride; he’s grown in confidence and it really shows in his writing. I absolutely cannot wait to read what comes next.
Is Against the Tide for you?
- FOR FANS OF: Police procedurals with plenty of twists and emotional turmoil
- EXPECT: Brilliantly written characters, heartbreak, twist after twists
- READ IF YOU LIKE: Clare Mackintosh, Gillian McAllister, LJ Ross
With thanks to the publisher, Avon Books, for providing a proof copy of the book for the purposes of this review.
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