What do you think?
Rate this book
DI Marjory Fleming #7
Evil for Evil
A skeleton is found shackled to a rock in a sea-cave near an isolated Scottish village. And DI Marjory Fleming attempts to uncover the pattern she cannot see, a deadly and ugly pattern she must solve before it s too late. Lovatt Island is one of a group of beautiful, uninhabited islands, near the isolated village of Innellan in south-west Scotland. The skeleton found in one of its sea-caves, shackled to the rock, looks like the relic of some long ago conflict between rival smuggling gangs, but the modern watch clasped around its bony wrist gives the lie to that. It presents a challenging, if not perhaps an urgent case for DI Marjory Fleming. But in the village there is an atmosphere of fear and tension and seemingly unconnected incidents start to happen: unpleasant vandalism; a house is set on fire. The rank smell of hatred is in the air and Fleming, desperate to prevent more violence senses a pattern she cannot see, a deadly uncompleted design becoming uglier and uglier.
485 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2012
About the author
Aline Templeton
40 books129 followersAline Templeton grew up in the East Neuk of Fife and was educated at St Leonards School, St Andrews and Cambridge University. She has worked in education and broadcasting and has written numerous stories and articles for national newspapers and magazines. Templeton was a bench Justice of the Peace for ten years and is a former Chair of the Society of Authors in Scotland, now living in Edinburgh. She is married with a grown up family.
She has written nine crime novels, published by Hodder & Stoughton in Britain, and has also been published in the United States and several European countries. After writing seven stand-alone books, she started a series set in Galloway and featuring DI Marjory Fleming, the first of which – Cold In The Earth – was an Ottakar's Crime Novel of the Month and an Independent Best Summer Read. The second, The Darkness and the Deep, was published in July 2006, and there are now six books in the DI Fleming series.
She has written nine crime novels, published by Hodder & Stoughton in Britain, and has also been published in the United States and several European countries. After writing seven stand-alone books, she started a series set in Galloway and featuring DI Marjory Fleming, the first of which – Cold In The Earth – was an Ottakar's Crime Novel of the Month and an Independent Best Summer Read. The second, The Darkness and the Deep, was published in July 2006, and there are now six books in the DI Fleming series.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
March 3, 2013
I cannot say enough, how much I love this series and indeed, all of Aline Templeton's books, and this for me was yet another winner. Marjory Fleming is back and the year's are now moving on, with Cat, her daughter who is now 18 years old and about to set off for University in Glasgow, to start her studies towards becoming a Vet. Her boyfriend is already up there, so she is looking forward to starting her new life and the night before she is due to leave home, she has prepared a farewell supper for the family. Of course just as Marjory is ready to set off for home, she has to go to a crime scene of a nasty domestic and Cat is not best pleased. That night, two teenage boys are out in their father's boat and go to explore a cave on Lovatt Island, where they find a skeleton, shackled to the cave walls and long dead. They don't report their finding immediately as they fear they will be in trouble with their parents for going to the caves, but when one of them breaks down and is awakened by nightmares of what he has seen, his parents coax him to tell them what is troubling him. The following day, as Marjory and Bill are ready to set off for Glasgow with Cat, Marjory once again is called to work and it looks like Cat will never forgive her for choosing the job over her family once again. Initially, the police believe the skeleton has been there for probably over a century, until they spot a very modern-day watch on the discovery. Matt Lovatt, owner of the Island is being persecuted by some locals with grudges to bear and his problems seem to be piling up. There is a back story at the very start of the book, of an abduction of a child from her bedroom and of course, you know that this will have an important bearing on the story. The tale here is indeed tragic and disturbing, and while I had an idea of who was responsible for the murders (there are a few), I still got a surprise ending to the story. This is the latest in this series, only recently released, so I hope that there may be a few more years left in Marjory's story.
February 4, 2013
Interesting and credible characters, a clever plot that kept me guessing, a well-described and attractive setting and well-written into the bargain - I really enjoyed it. It deals with important contemporary issues, too.
March 20, 2018
Entry #7 in the DI Marjory Fleming series is painted in the usual broad strokes, and normally I find that endearing. Of course blunt, capable, brilliant Fleming feels torn between work and family. Of course sidekick Tam McNee still egregiously spouts Rabbie Burns quotes that would sound awkward coming from any character speaking in the last 12 decades. Business as usual.
But this go-round, there is nonstop whiplash-inducing gender stereotyping of victims and criminals alike. Plus a whole slough of psychologically improbable behavior that's described in insulting terms.
For example, in this book's skewed universe, a character w/ self-harming compulsions is automatically a bitch. (Nope, that didn't make any sense to me, either.)
A good book to skip.
But this go-round, there is nonstop whiplash-inducing gender stereotyping of victims and criminals alike. Plus a whole slough of psychologically improbable behavior that's described in insulting terms.
For example, in this book's skewed universe, a character w/ self-harming compulsions is automatically a bitch. (Nope, that didn't make any sense to me, either.)
A good book to skip.
May 21, 2021
2.5 ⭐️ First book I read of this series, everyone seem to really like them. Unfortunately I didn't get on with the writing style at all. I found the way the characters interact with each other very confusing, a lot of the time I didn't know who was saying what. And also the amount of characters, my word! The first 50 pages or so was an introduction of character after character - just way too many to keep track and too many to have any of them properly developed.
November 13, 2018
I have liked the other books in this series more.
July 27, 2018
Another great book in this series.
A skeleton is found in a cave of a small Scottish community. There are mischief makers who don’t like Matt Lovell, the owner of the island where the remains were found.
Matt, an injured veteran, decides to use this small island, and his farm, as a retreat for other veterans suffering PTSD. His wife, Lisa, is very passive/aggressive. Their young baby is buried in the graveyard on the island and she is not happy about this development, or things in general.
When DI Fleming and her colleague, Tam, turn up to investigate, Tam, comes face to face with his past in the form of Brodie. Brodie is working for Matt. Tam immediately suspects Brodie of something based on his past experience of the guy.
Elena, is a cold beauty married to Eddie, who adores her. He puts up with a lot just to keep her in his life. When she decides to “take some time for herself”, as she’s done before, he goes along with it. But this time, something is different. What connection does she have with this small community? What has drawn her there?
Marjory has trouble on the home front with Cat. Her daughter is now 18 and heading off to university. She still has issues with her mother and her mother’s job. On the eve of leaving home, Cat has arranged a special family dinner. Marjory is kept away due to this new murder inquiry. Another reason for Cat to hate her.
Between the family discord, the lack of personnel, and the mounting incidents, Marjory is exhausted and stressed.
The story comes to its conclusion and we are asked to look at how incidents in people’s lives can reverberate through the years. But just how much of our actions can be attributed to our choices or the choices of others?
A skeleton is found in a cave of a small Scottish community. There are mischief makers who don’t like Matt Lovell, the owner of the island where the remains were found.
Matt, an injured veteran, decides to use this small island, and his farm, as a retreat for other veterans suffering PTSD. His wife, Lisa, is very passive/aggressive. Their young baby is buried in the graveyard on the island and she is not happy about this development, or things in general.
When DI Fleming and her colleague, Tam, turn up to investigate, Tam, comes face to face with his past in the form of Brodie. Brodie is working for Matt. Tam immediately suspects Brodie of something based on his past experience of the guy.
Elena, is a cold beauty married to Eddie, who adores her. He puts up with a lot just to keep her in his life. When she decides to “take some time for herself”, as she’s done before, he goes along with it. But this time, something is different. What connection does she have with this small community? What has drawn her there?
Marjory has trouble on the home front with Cat. Her daughter is now 18 and heading off to university. She still has issues with her mother and her mother’s job. On the eve of leaving home, Cat has arranged a special family dinner. Marjory is kept away due to this new murder inquiry. Another reason for Cat to hate her.
Between the family discord, the lack of personnel, and the mounting incidents, Marjory is exhausted and stressed.
The story comes to its conclusion and we are asked to look at how incidents in people’s lives can reverberate through the years. But just how much of our actions can be attributed to our choices or the choices of others?
October 24, 2020
I can always count on Aline Templeton to write an intelligent, compelling mystery, and her DI Marjory Fleming series has long been a favorite-- so much so that I only tend to pick one up when I need what I call a guaranteed good read. Evil for Evil is a bit slow at times, but once it builds up a good head of steam, time flies by.
The mystery itself is a strong one, as well as being surprising and quite disturbing. The village setting is atmospheric... claustrophobic... and so well drawn that most city folk could point to it as convincing proof that no one should step one single toe out in the country. When secret after secret is exposed to the light, one character describes it as "omertà Scottish style," which I think is a perfect description.
But this series isn't all about the mystery. The major reason why I keep coming back for more is due to the excellent cast. I always like watching "Big Marge" Fleming's mind work as she pieces things together. Her personal life plays a role in each book, too. In Evil for Evil, both of her children show us what parents must deal with when youngsters think with their emotions instead of their brains. Fleming's second-in-command, Tam MacNee, has to deal with a secret or two in his own life, and we get to watch newcomer Detective Constable Louise Hepburn try to apply her classroom knowledge to real-world situations in order to make a big impression on the boss.
There are always things to learn in Templeton's books, whether it's raising deer as a commercial business or finding out what a Croydon facelift is. I like learning things. I like trying to solve mysteries. I like feeling a part of the family with a multi-faceted cast of characters. There's just no way around it: I like the way Aline Templeton writes, and I'll always go back for more (especially when Big Marge Fleming is involved).
The mystery itself is a strong one, as well as being surprising and quite disturbing. The village setting is atmospheric... claustrophobic... and so well drawn that most city folk could point to it as convincing proof that no one should step one single toe out in the country. When secret after secret is exposed to the light, one character describes it as "omertà Scottish style," which I think is a perfect description.
But this series isn't all about the mystery. The major reason why I keep coming back for more is due to the excellent cast. I always like watching "Big Marge" Fleming's mind work as she pieces things together. Her personal life plays a role in each book, too. In Evil for Evil, both of her children show us what parents must deal with when youngsters think with their emotions instead of their brains. Fleming's second-in-command, Tam MacNee, has to deal with a secret or two in his own life, and we get to watch newcomer Detective Constable Louise Hepburn try to apply her classroom knowledge to real-world situations in order to make a big impression on the boss.
There are always things to learn in Templeton's books, whether it's raising deer as a commercial business or finding out what a Croydon facelift is. I like learning things. I like trying to solve mysteries. I like feeling a part of the family with a multi-faceted cast of characters. There's just no way around it: I like the way Aline Templeton writes, and I'll always go back for more (especially when Big Marge Fleming is involved).
February 3, 2017
This series just keeps getting better. The theme and plot were excellent in this one, very dramatic ending, suspenseful, hard to put it down. Great handling of the emotional dynamics both within and between characters. Totally convincing and compelling. The ultimate villain and motive were completely unexpected, by me at least. I was sure I knew who it was until the surprise twist near the end. I also liked the way the author worked in a review of events at the end. So many books are disappointing in the way they end abruptly as soon as the mystery is solved. Set, as usual, near the west coast of Scotland. I have read all of the books in this series. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that I found it hard to follow for the first 25% because of the number of characters you have to remember. If I hadn't read and liked the previous books in the series, I may have given up at this point. However, this is an issue for all of the books in the series, so this one was just a bit worse due to the extra number of characters, many of whom seemed totally unconnected with each other. The other thing I didn't care for was the subplot involving the main detective's daughter. This was interesting in its own right but with so much else to keep track of, I found it an unnecessary diversion.
April 20, 2026
This is the seventh book in a police procedural series (nine books in total) and the eighth book which I have read featuring Deective Inspector Marjory Fleming which is set in south west Scotland.
This is a compelling story which I read in one sitting which meant I stayed up well past my usual bed time in order to finish it. A skeleton is discovered in a sea cave and there is also a campaign of harassment against a local resident leading to another murder. As well as all this the investigating officers have their own personal problems to deal with.
I went to sleep thinking that this was the author's best book. In the morning I realised that some of the story had not quite made sense but just go with the flow and it's a great read. I now have to find the sixth book.
I recommend new readers read the books in order as there are deveopments in the lives of the main characters as the series progresses.
This is a compelling story which I read in one sitting which meant I stayed up well past my usual bed time in order to finish it. A skeleton is discovered in a sea cave and there is also a campaign of harassment against a local resident leading to another murder. As well as all this the investigating officers have their own personal problems to deal with.
I went to sleep thinking that this was the author's best book. In the morning I realised that some of the story had not quite made sense but just go with the flow and it's a great read. I now have to find the sixth book.
I recommend new readers read the books in order as there are deveopments in the lives of the main characters as the series progresses.
April 29, 2022
This was one of those interesting mysteries where what you think is going on has nothing to do with what’s really happening. It took me awhile to get all the characters straight, but it was worth working through it all. Starting out with a skeleton shackled in a rocky cave on a small island off the coast of Scotland, and with a side story written in a very hard to read font, things slowly come together. It’s worthwhile to go through the various clues to find the connections.
December 30, 2018
A gripping story. A skeleton in a cave, child abuse, village politics, veterans, murder and mayhem. A great series. Fantastic setting in Galloway, Scotland. well plotted and finely drawn character, mixing their private lives and crime solving. These are a very well researched books. One sees the gradual slippery slope of bureaucracy and regulation as police seek to solve crimes.
August 28, 2020
While these books are very well written this one had so many characters you lost track of the story just trying to remember who was who. I am very gladI found this series though and am sad there are only two more books in the series.
January 25, 2021
Hard going at times, especially the first 100 pages or so. I found there was again too many characters in this lady's work for me to take it all in without going back to check on who they were,and their place in the story.
But it came good in the end.
But it came good in the end.
November 19, 2019
The seventh DI Marjory Fleming police procedural most satisfactorily juxtaposes complex crime with complicated family life.
August 1, 2021
1/2 way through I realized I was hate reading this and just gave up. Not sure why exactly--too hard to keep track of the giant cast of characters and not very interesting.
January 23, 2024
I'll continue the series
March 20, 2026
Probably the best of the series I've read so far. What bothers me though is the constant victim-modeing of women characters.
December 19, 2020
Great crime novel. Gripping. Only complaint was that it was a a bit slow at the start and there were too many characters introduced all at once which was confusing.
March 6, 2017
Probably because I haven't read any others in the series I found the police characters side stories boring. The actual crime drama plot was decent, but dragged out the suspense making the book longer than it needed to be.
January 16, 2016
This one is set in the small village of Innellan which is on the coast just west of Kirkcudbright (we learn in the book that Kirkcudbright is actually pronounced kirk-coo-bray). A skeleton is found shackled to the rocks in a cave on the seaward side Lovatt Island, just off the shore from Innellan and it soon becomes obvious that there is a whole tangle of nasty history linked to victim.
Matt Lovatt, who inherited the island and a farm from his grandmother, is a former soldier who is raising deer on the island and on his farm. He has a vision of the farm as being a haven and retreat for other former soldiers who, like himself, were physically and emotionally scared in battle; two of the people, a former Glasgow tough who lost a leg in Bosnia, and a young woman traumatized by her time in Afghanistan, are living at the farm when the book opens.
27. MemoryWalk - the lounge at the Frontier Inn in Fort St. John. A skeleton is sitting at the bar. "Give me a double scotch on the ROCKS," he says to the bartender in a hollow voice. "The good stuff this time, not the EVIL tasting stuff you usually serve." The bartender — a large, vicious-looking dog, puts the drink down on the bar and says, "Speaking of EVIL..." He inclines his head toward a stag party at a table in the corner. "Speaking of EVIL... EVIL smelling... EVIL tempered..." The stag party is made up of actually stags who are in rut and do smell terrible. They are also bellowing loudly to attract any passing does, and charging each other with their great antlers.
Matt Lovatt, who inherited the island and a farm from his grandmother, is a former soldier who is raising deer on the island and on his farm. He has a vision of the farm as being a haven and retreat for other former soldiers who, like himself, were physically and emotionally scared in battle; two of the people, a former Glasgow tough who lost a leg in Bosnia, and a young woman traumatized by her time in Afghanistan, are living at the farm when the book opens.
27. MemoryWalk - the lounge at the Frontier Inn in Fort St. John. A skeleton is sitting at the bar. "Give me a double scotch on the ROCKS," he says to the bartender in a hollow voice. "The good stuff this time, not the EVIL tasting stuff you usually serve." The bartender — a large, vicious-looking dog, puts the drink down on the bar and says, "Speaking of EVIL..." He inclines his head toward a stag party at a table in the corner. "Speaking of EVIL... EVIL smelling... EVIL tempered..." The stag party is made up of actually stags who are in rut and do smell terrible. They are also bellowing loudly to attract any passing does, and charging each other with their great antlers.
January 12, 2015
That marvellous quote from Nietzsche seems to be popping up a lot in my reading lately: When you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes back. And in the case of some of my favourite characters, when it does the abyss doesn't intimidate them; they intimidate the abyss. That's true here of the principal mayhem maker - I don't say villain because most tho' not all the victims got what they deserved - a revenger straight out of a Greek tragedy who really let's it rip . With better editing & more of the perpetrator's back-story earlier so we'd feel the pathos we should, this book would be a five-star. It's an author I like & DI Fleming is a very likeable character & the setting is 1st rate. Even the cows are good looking.
Unfortunately the book is much too long & full of characters & incidents that do nothing to advance the plot & simply take up space. So you can enjoy it if you read it, without revealing anything about who did it or why, I'll tell you what you can skip without missing anything: With these excised, the BMI of this book would be 25 rather than 35 & you'd have an exciting read rather than the hard slog that I did.
Unfortunately the book is much too long & full of characters & incidents that do nothing to advance the plot & simply take up space. So you can enjoy it if you read it, without revealing anything about who did it or why, I'll tell you what you can skip without missing anything: With these excised, the BMI of this book would be 25 rather than 35 & you'd have an exciting read rather than the hard slog that I did.
September 9, 2014
It is bits like this which I think are just great writing:
he"had left with the warning ringing in his ears that his future activities had better be confined to knitting and the perusal of the less inflammatory sections of the Bible, if he didn't want to find himself with the sort of problems that would make the trials of Job look like a walk in the park."
"for some reason he had fallen with a crash you could hear across in Ireland for Christie,"
he"had left with the warning ringing in his ears that his future activities had better be confined to knitting and the perusal of the less inflammatory sections of the Bible, if he didn't want to find himself with the sort of problems that would make the trials of Job look like a walk in the park."
"for some reason he had fallen with a crash you could hear across in Ireland for Christie,"
January 1, 2013
I enjoyed the book- Aline Templeton writes an enjoyable story on crime in a small village-you get to see the issues of being a working women in a unpredictable job aswell as a mother/farmer
Her husband is soo understanding you wonder if it is possible and I am interested how the storyline of mother-daughter angst will continue in the series.
Her husband is soo understanding you wonder if it is possible and I am interested how the storyline of mother-daughter angst will continue in the series.
October 19, 2015
Maybe 3.5. These books have gotten pretty convoluted as the series goes on. There's always at least three different layers of somewhat related crime going on. And while I in some ways enjoy Templeton's habit of starting each section with just pronouns to keep you guessing, when there are more and more characters it can be irritating as well.
November 24, 2017
It´s always nice when you discover a new series. I had never heard of Aline Templeton before I got this book. A good mystery set in wonderful Scotland and interesting characters. I will definitely read the other books in the series.
December 18, 2014
I have been working my way through this series. It is ok but not one of my favorites as I don't find the main characters especially engaging. Much of this book was quite confusing with a main plot in which the various threads were eventually resolved and several subplots.
February 17, 2016
I enjoy this series but this installment was just a bit of a stretch. I'm also over Cat. She knows her mother has a difficult job, that she is the main source of income for the family. Get over the whining already. As the series has progressed I find Cat a character I could live without.
November 12, 2016
as with all the books in this series, it's fascinating to see how dogged these detectives are. it seems that the solution will never be found, but it always is. this result was easier to see coming, as there was only one person to whom all the answers fit. Hope Marjory and Cat can work things out.
March 11, 2013
Another really good addition to the Marjory Fleming series. Interesting setting, very well written, good suspense. I'm looking forward to the next one.
October 2, 2014
Templeton does it again. Tam and Big Marge are back in the thick of things. Interesting characters, a small village and a deserted island all add to this haunting mystery.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews