Blood Red Roses

Rhona MacLeod #0.5

by Lin Anderson

This is a prequel to "Driftnet" with forensic scientist Dr. Rhona MacLeod. When does desire become obsession? A hen night in Glasgow leaves the bride-to-be dead on a toilet floor. Her body is twisted, her face a mask of terror. Who would kill a girl just before her wedding? Dr Rhona MacLeod and her team are called in to find out. As they go through the evidence, they find themselves in a world where sex is bought and sold, and more violent death is lying in wait.

Genres: Mystery, Scotland, Crime, Contemporary, Thriller, Mystery Thriller

104 pages, Paperback

First published January 5, 2005

About the author

Lin Anderson was born in Greenock of Scottish and Irish parents. A graduate of both Glasgow and Edinburgh Universities, she has lived in many different parts of Scotland and also spent five years working in the African bush. A teacher of Mathematics and Computing, she began her writing career four years ago. Her first film, Small Love, which was broadcast on STV, was nominated for TAPS writer of the year award 2001. Her African short stories have been published in the 10th Anniversary Macallan collection and broadcast on BBC Radio Four.

Reviews

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Time to read this forgotten series by one of Scotland's best crime writers, Lin Anderson. This is like a prequel short story and is an excellent case to show Dr Rhons MacLeod, forensic scientist.
So both an excellent short story and a easy route into these books, especially, if like me you prefer to read them in chronological order.
A trip to the loo is a normal event on a hen night; to end up dead on a toilet floor is more unusual even in Glasgow.
"'Poison,' he shook his head. 'It's like an Agatha Christie novel'"
Happily it is and it isn't. There seems to be a close group of suspects, tick. Everyone doesn't tell the full truth, tick. More people will perhaps die, tick. It is centred on a lap dancing club. What? Chaptin Hastings you're blushing.
Great plot, fleshed out characters and realistic dialogue make for a cracking read, a classic whodunit hardly but a clever modern interpretation re-launching her characters and what has become an established thriller series 10 books in and counting.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice little novella that I picked up as an intro to Lin Anderson's work.

Very good.

A bride to be is murdered during her hen party. A simple murder with a not so simple solution.

Am going hunting for Lin Anderson's other books now.

[Anja Henriksen]

Well ... Unfortunately I can't give the story a star-rating, as it was extremely confusing for me, at least the first half.
As it turns out, the audiobook I was listening too has an error, and it's a completely different story I've listened to about a teenage girl time-traveling during the night instead of sleeping, and ends up at a ship filled with slaves on their way to be sold....a bit in the spirit of the television show Outlander, which I have only watched 1 episode off.
So... that's that 😆

[Lesley Williamson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I have read the Rhona McLeod novels, this was a nicely written short prequel which introduced the characters of the novels in an enjoyable and typically murderous way!

[Andy Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting little tale that introduces us to Forensic Scientist Rhona Macleod and the dark underbelly of Glasgow. I do like my crime fiction both Scottish and Noir and this ticks both the boxes. Time to see if the full length novels are as good (I'm guessing they probably will be)

[Emmett J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well crafted who-done-it.

In the seedy under belly of night life even a lap dancer can find true love. Little would she suspect it would cost her more than she was ready to give. Rhona steps in and literally pieces the crime together until the murder is revealed. The only problem is Rhona is alone when that happens.

Very well written. The British terminology is a delight to a Yankee ear. So, time for me to ring off.

[Janis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't believe when the book ended!! It was like what?! it can't be done! I was sucked in on the first page! really fabulous read!

[Alyson Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

A woman is found dead in a nightclub toilet by her friends. Forensic scientist Dr Rhona MacLeod and her assistant Chrissy McInsh start to work the scene. DI Wilson’s team, including DS Janice Clark investigate what soon turns out to be a case of murder. At 64 pages or an hour and a half on audiobook, it’s a short and punchy read but still a satisfying and complete story of the strange death of Donna on her hen night. Could it be the jealous fiancé, a secret lover or a besotted client from the seedy strip club where she still works under the guise of Rose to pay for her dream wedding dress? Who is leaving her flowers? Who wanted Donna dead on the eve of her wedding? All questions which will need to be answered to catch the killer.
A great introduction to Rhona MacLeod and includes the story of how she first meets jazz saxophonist Sean, excellently narrated to bring the character to life. 5*

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

BLOOD RED ROSES by Lin Anderson is a ‘novella’. It is written as a prequel to DRIFTNET, the 1st title of Ms. Anderson’s series featuring forensic scientist, Rhona MacLeod.
Dr. Rhona MacLeod is a forensic scientist in the city of Glasgow. In BLOOD RED ROSES we are introduced to Dr. MacLeod; her friend and mentor, DI Bill Watson; her assistant Chrissy; and Sean, the sexy, Irish, sax player she meets at the local club.
This case features a dead woman found in the toilets at a seedy club, the Excalibur. She is a bride-to-be out on the town on her ‘hen night’ with girlfriends.
BLOOD RED ROSES has a very tight plot with several twists and interesting characters. Lin Anderson has a very quickly moving, no nonsense, writing style and her character studies are right on and realistic. I enjoyed this prequel and all titles in the Rhona MacLeod series. ****

[NoirBlogger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read introducing forensic scientist Rhona McCleod. As a result I have gone on to read the first book and I'm about half way through. Yes the storyline has been done before- after so many crime thrillers is it possible to get one that hasn't? What matters to me is the craft and how the story unfolds and Lin Anderson seems a good one to follow. Rhona can be a bit of an idiot in her private life but so can many people I guess. I'm hoping they really engage me with me as there are lots and I could do with a new prolific brilliant author

[Tarasimone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and sweet. Well, short anyway. Not remotely sweet.

Listened on audiobook. Under an hour and a half. Handy little boost that pushed me over double my Goodreads goal for the year.

Relieved when the woman-killing creep finally got caught.

Fast by default because it’s tiny. Surprised how much actual story they crammed in. Bit more sex and nudity than I’m comfortable with.

This is a prequel novella to a series of full length books; I plan to continue the series.

Need a quick hit to reach your reading goal? This one will do nicely.

[Thekirkiepirate · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've read a number of Lin Anderson novels and quite enjoyed them, but I'm afraid that this one just didn't do it for me.

It's very short - i deed, were the font not so big, I think it may only stretch to 50 pages. As a result, the plot and character development are very superficial.

However, the later novels are much better.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I choose to read this prequel as an introduction to the series and to see if I liked it enough to continue with the series - and I did. It was well written and I enjoyed the characters , the plot and the setting. I will be continuing on with the series.

[Anne - Books of My Heart · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very quick intro to the characters and world, a brief prequel novella. The main character definitely has some quirks. I'll withhold complete judgement until I've read book 1 but it was an enjoyable read.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable, and definitely one that had me wanting to read more. A nice introduction to the authors work and i’ll be checking out more of their stuff. It was short, but I found it quite refreshing - it packed enough in to it. Good storytelling.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent fast read. Will be reading more of Anderson's books.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderfully well-written crime novella. The characters are still well-formed even within the short structure.

[Bill McFadyen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short tale of sex and violence in the. Big city . Ideal for a train journey of a few hours length.

[Eden Gruger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it, but the ending felt abit sudden

[Linda L · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of Lin Andersons books I've read and just about to order the first 5 in the series. This short 'novella' had me hooked from page one. Looking forward to my weekend reading.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't normally do novellas or prequels. Didn't do a lot for me.

[KazOfBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only character I wasn't keen on in the first book in the series was Sean.
This prequel gives a bit more insight into how they got together.
And a death or two...

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice bite-sized introduction to an interesting main character - looking forward to reading more books in this series

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

My introduction to Rhona Macleod has left me wanting more and I will start on Driftnet straight away. She is a driven forensic scientist. Looking forward to see how she goes.

[Amanda Miles · Rating 4 out of 5]

short story

[Barbra · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is the prequal to Driftnet by this author. It's only a very short book and it was ok. Only read because I wanted to read Driftnet and thought I would read the prequal first.

Back Cover Blurb:
A hen night in Glasgow leaves a bride-to-be dead on a toilet floor. Her body is twisted, her face a mask of terror. Who would kill a girl just before her wedding? Dr Rhona MacLeod and her team are called in to find out. As they go through the evidence, they find themselves in a world where sex is bought and sold, and more violent death is lying in wait,

[Monica Mac · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a funny little story, funny as in odd. It was a very quick read indeed, just a short rush through a case. The most interesting thing about it was that it describes the start of Sean and Rhona's relationship, which is always good to know.

Worth reading if you get it from the library for free....otherwise, it doesn't add to the Rhona MacLeod series all that much. Her later books are much better.

[Rog Harrison · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is part of a series of books which has been developed for readers who are not used to reading full length novels and is only 92 pages long. I thought I would give it a go as it is in effect a prequel to the Dr Rhona MacLeod series although it was actually written after the third book in the series. It is a simple read which is exactly what it's meant to be but it is not as satisfying as the full length books.