A remote shoreline. A lethal killer. As lone visitors disappear from the rural northwest of Scotland, campsites become crime scenes in the seventeenth Rhona MacLeod thriller from Lin Anderson.

When forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod is brought in to analyze a shallow grave on Scotland’s west coast, she is disturbed by a bundle of twigs crafted into a stickman and left in the victim’s mouth.

Then, when a young woman is reported missing from a nearby campsite with another sinister figurine left in her van, it seems that someone is targeting wild campers. An idyllic coastline known for providing peace and serenity, now the area is a hunting ground.

As her investigation proceeds, Rhona is forced to reconsider her closest bonds. Rumours of sexual assault offences by serving police officers are circling in Glasgow, which may include her trusted colleague DS Michael McNab. Could it be true, or is someone looking to put him out of action?

All the while a young woman’s life is on the line and the clock is ticking.

Review:

Chilling, dark, and skillfully crafted!

In this seventeenth instalment in the Rhona MacLeod series, The Wild Coast, Anderson has written a gritty police procedural that sees forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod and her team tangled up in an inquiry that seems at first glance to be an isolated, missing person case, but which quickly unfolds into something a lot more sinister involving at least one killer with a penchant for confinement, torture, and murder and a strange fascination with figures made of sticks.

The writing is seamless and tight. The characters are multilayered, diligent, and persistent. And the plot is an engrossing, suspenseful tale full of twists, turns, secrets, lies, deception, familial drama, emotional entanglements, depravity, mayhem, and murder.

Overall, The Wild Coast is another thrilling, addictive, propulsive addition to a series that, with its flawed characters, great pace, and constant sense of urgency, is still one of my all-time favourites.

This book is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

Review:

Meticulous, sinister and sharp!

The Killing Tide is a menacing, creative police procedural that sees forensic scientist Dr Rhona MacLeod and her team tangled up in two cases that seem at first glance to be isolated incidents, a woman set on fire at an apartment building in Glasgow and an abandoned cargo ship containing several victims washing ashore in Orkney, but as the investigation unfolds, it doesn’t take long before it quickly becomes apparent that these cases may be connected and may have ties to a criminal syndicate with influential friends and a penchant for fulfilling all the devious things the rich and powerful like to indulge in.

The writing is atmospheric and crisp. The characters are multifaceted, intuitive, and persistent. And the plot is a compelling, ominous mix of twists, turns, red herrings, secrets, deduction, mayhem, violence, manipulation, and murder.

Overall, The Killing Tide is crafty, dark, and unbelievably the sixteenth book in the Rhona MacLeod series. I have yet to read a novel by Anderson that isn’t gripping, pacey, and extremely satisfying, and this one is definitely no exception.

This book is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

Review:

Shrewd, gripping, and meticulous!

In this latest novel by Anderson, The Innocent Dead, we head back to Glasgow where forensic scientist Dr Rhona MacLeod and her team at Police Scotland find themselves investigating and unravelling the 1975 cold case of a missing eleven-year-old girl after a child’s body is accidentally discovered in a nearby peat bog.

The prose is seamless and crisp. The characterization is stellar with all the usual gang back including the meticulous, intuitive Dr Rhona MacLeod who’s still grappling with the psychological and emotional toll left by the sin-eater case. And the plot, including all the subplots, intertwine and unwind seamlessly into an engrossing tale full of abuse, deception, secrets, familial drama, red herrings, manipulation, violence, and murder.

Overall, The Innocent Dead is a gripping, atmospheric, highly entertaining tale by Anderson that is another fine example of her exceptional ability to write police procedurals that have catchy storylines and fully-developed characters.

This book is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.