The Crimson Keep
A DCI Surinder Taws Mystery — Book One
Published April 2026
Format Ebook (Kindle Unlimited) · Paperback
Series Book 1 of a series
Genre Scottish Crime Fiction
A body. A symbol. A killer who thinks he’s saving the world.
When a young woman is found dead at the foot of Dunnottar Castle’s ancient cliffs, the death is quickly dismissed as suicide. DCI Surinder Taws isn’t convinced.
Recently transferred to the coastal town of Stonehaven after a turbulent end to her marriage, Sindy is still finding her feet when a second woman is found dead. Both victims share an unsettling detail: a red spiral, carved into their skin.
The mark echoes a local legend known as the Crimson Keep — the story of a woman who fell from the castle walls centuries ago, whose restless spirit is said to haunt the cliffs to this day.
Sindy doesn’t believe in ghosts. But someone in Stonehaven does.
As she digs deeper, she uncovers a disturbing pattern linking the victims: poisonous plants, environmental protests, and a killer who believes the women he targets have violated the natural world. To him, these aren’t murders. They’re corrections.
Then a third victim survives — just long enough to speak.
And Sindy realises the spiral isn’t just a symbol.
It’s a warning.
Perfect for readers of…
⊗ LJ Ross — atmospheric Scottish crime with a sense of place that feels almost like a character in itself
⊗Ann Cleeves— rich regional settings, complex characters, and slow-burn investigations that reward patience
⊗ Elly Griffiths— crime that weaves myth, legend and landscape into the mystery
⊗Rachel McLean— contemporary female detectives navigating real-world pressures alongside the case
Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire.
“A harbour town of fishing boats and granite walls, where Dunnottar Castle watches from its clifftop and the North Sea is never far from anything.”
Rachel Bremner spent childhood summers on the Aberdeenshire coast — a landscape she’s carried with her ever since. Stonehaven is a real town, Dunnottar Castle is a real and spectacular ruin, and the local legends woven through The Crimson Keep are rooted in the genuine folklore of this remarkable stretch of Scottish coastline.
If you’ve ever stood on those cliff paths with the wind coming in off the North Sea, you’ll recognise every page.
Get your copy
Available now in ebook on Amazon Kindle (included in Kindle Unlimited), and in paperback from bookshops and online retailers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about The Crimson Keep
What is The Crimson Keep about?
When a young woman is found dead beneath the cliffs of Dunnottar Castle, DCI Surinder Taws suspects murder. A red spiral carved into the victim’s skin is linked to a centuries-old local legend. As more victims emerge, Sindy uncovers a killer motivated by a warped belief that his victims have sinned against the natural world.
Who is DCI Surinder Taws?
DCI Surinder Taws — known as Sindy — is a Punjabi Scottish detective in her early fifties who transfers from Glasgow to the coastal town of Stonehaven following the breakdown of her marriage. She is sharp, principled, and not remotely interested in playing politics. She is also dealing with the realities of menopause while leading a murder investigation — which she does with considerable tenacity.
Where is The Crimson Keep set?
The book is set in Stonehaven, a real harbour town on the Aberdeenshire coast of Scotland. Key locations include Dunnottar Castle — a spectacular clifftop ruin that features prominently in the story — and the wild North Sea coastline that surrounds it. Rachel Bremner spent childhood summers in Aberdeenshire and the landscape is drawn from life.
Is The Crimson Keep part of a series?
Yes. The Crimson Keep is the first book in the DCI Surinder Taws mystery series. Sindy will return in further books, all set on the Aberdeenshire coast.
What kind of crime fiction is it?
The Crimson Keep sits in the tradition of atmospheric regional crime fiction — think LJ Ross, Elly Griffiths and Ann Cleeves. It is soft crime rather than cosy crime: there is real menace and genuine stakes, but the focus is always on character, place and the puzzle at the heart of the story. Local myth and legend play a central role.
Where can I buy The Crimson Keep?
The Crimson Keep is available as an ebook on Amazon Kindle, including in Kindle Unlimited, and as a paperback from bookshops and online retailers.