Dead Close

by Lin Anderson

The Dead are Closer than you Think

DI Doug Cameron is about to retire after a distinguished career in Edinburgh’s police force, when an anonymous caller reports a woman being attacked in Greyfriars churchyard. During the investigation a mummified body is unearthed and Cameron comes to believe it’s his young wife, Rebecca, who disappeared 17 years before. Haunted by the case he never solved, Cameron, a sceptic, has a series of disturbing and fragmented premonitions which begin with a mysterious girl who looks like Rebecca. As his real and unreal world collide Cameron thinks the girl holds the key, not just to the recent attack in the graveyard, but to what happened to Rebecca. But will the truth prove more terrible than the unknown?
Dead Close is in development as a movie with production company Makar After Dark, screenplay by Lin Anderson.

Genres: Short Stories

17 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 3, 2011

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

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great shortie that packs an emotional punch. Somehow the author has created a complete story that is poignant, spooky & richly atmospheric in less than 20 pages. And all for less than $1. Well done.

[S.A. Krishnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the short story

Cameron's last case in the story was very well narrated. With slight references of supernatural elements, though the story did not delve on it much, still enjoyed the mystery.

[AnnMarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read anything in a long time! i felt in the reading mood again and just read this short story. I loved it! it sure did take me out of my own world for the moment!! And I do need some relief from what's been going on in my life now... this was the book to get me into reading again! its a short story set in Edinburgh england with 2detectives investigating a case of a woman screaming in a graveyard and blood in a mausoleum. The older retiring detective has a pregnant wife that went missing yrs ago. He's about to retire when this case in the graveyard comes up and sends this detective on an adventure to the paranormal. I'd call this a mystery with a paranormal twist! its done very well! I'd recommend it to anyone!

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great short story by Lin Anderson and set in Edinburgh. It is also found in The Mammoth Book of Best British Crime Volume 8.
The writing is of the highest quality, fast paced and full of intrigue as DI Cameron faces up to one last case.
I feel it does not quite work as a ghost story, perhaps as it is too short and the unnatural elements are not dwelt on long enough.
However, it is a good story and an excellent introduction to the work of this talented author.

[Linda Ringland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead Close

Wow very, very short story . took only an hour to read. I love Lin Anderson's books . . .